AUTHORS NOTE:

This chapter contains some rough abuse.

Chapter 24: Taking action

Several days passed and Heath kept quiet and out of trouble as he devised a plan. Heath looked over at his toy train. That's it. He thought. There was a train station nearby, so he wouldn't have to be gone long for anyone to notice. It was the perfect plan. Brax had gone out to get some essentials while Cheryl and Danny were preoccupied in the living room drinking and watching TV. Heath took baby Casey out of his crib, Casey began to stir. "Shut it brat."

Heath snuck out of the house and headed towards the train station. Sneaking onto the train, Heath placed Casey onto one of the seats and snuck off. The whistle blew for the train to leave and Heath stood smirking then quickly raced out of sight.

"Nice knowing ya brat."

Heath ran back home and into his room. Brax returned home, placing everything in the kitchen and headed to Casey's room. Panic ran through him when he did not see Casey in his crib and he had not seen him with either of his parents when he walked in. Brax entered Heath's room.

"Heath have you seen Casey?" Heath grunted. It's always about Casey.

"He's a long way away."

"Heath what does that mean?" Heath shrugged.

"Please Heath if you know something you have to tell me." Heath just shrugged and turned away.

Brax raced out the house trying to think of places that his parents may have taken Casey. Along the way he ran into a friend.

"Hey Brax, what was with your brother Heath taking Casey for a train ride this morning? Isn't he only nine?"

"What?" Brax couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Didn't you know?" "No."

"I saw Heath carrying Casey onto the train this morning before it took off."

"And where was Casey?"

"I don't know I only saw Heath go on the train. Why?" "Casey's missing."

Brax took off towards the train station yelling out thanks to his friend as he went. What if he did not reach the station in time, what if something happened to Casey? Many thoughts raced through his head but were overpowered by his anger towards Heath, now he knew why he was acting like he knew nothing.

The train had only taken Casey to the next stop when an elderly lady noticed Casey sitting unsupervised on his own and took him to the train guard, who then contacted the police. There was a knock at the door.

"Arg! Who would be comin' this time of the morning" Danny groaned as he went to answer the door.

He was surprised to see the police standing on the doorstep holding his son. "What are you doing with my son?"

They managed to track down who the baby was by the wrist band on Casey's tiny wrist which read the name Casey Braxton. It had been left on from when he when to hospital to get his immunizations the previous day.

"Your son was found in the next suburb up, he had been put on a train and left. Do you know anything about this?"

"No, but I have a fair idea who does." Danny grabbed Casey out of the policeman's arms.

"It is an offense to dump a baby like that, if we hear about this again we will be forced to involve child services." The policeman warned.

Danny grunted and closed the door. Cheryl approached from the other room. "What's going on?" Danny handed Casey to her. "Apparently Heath put Casey on the train and left him."

Cheryl stood shocked. "I'm gonna smack him!" Danny placed his hand up to stop her.

"Leave it to me." He said coolly before he headed towards Heath's room.

"Heath! Get out here now!"

Heath jumped at the sound of his father's furious voice and cautiously opened his door. Danny reached Heath and grabbed him, pushing him forcefully back into his room, and pushed him down on his bed.

"What do you think you're playing at?"

Danny started to forcefully punch and slap Heath, hitting all over the left side of his body, as Heath tried to block him. Heath struggled and screamed, pain going through his entire body as tears drastically escaped his eyes.

"Dad, stop. I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Who put's their baby brother on a train and leaves them? We could 'ave been in a lot of trouble with social services boy!" Danny continued to hit Heath for a few minutes before stopping.

"I'm sorry Dad." Heath whimpered. "I'll show you sorry!"

Danny took off his belt and fear grew in Heath's eyes. Danny had threatened him before but had never actually used his belt on him.

"Dad please!" Heath pleaded, but the pleading fell on deaf ears as Heath felt the pain run through his body as his father struck his belt down hard over Heath's body. Heath screamed and fresh tears fell at fast speed. Danny struck Heath two more times before hanging his belt down in his hands and giving Heath a final shove. Danny got down into Heath's face and glared into his son's crying eyes.

"Do something like that again, and I'll give ya a real beating." Danny warned before he stormed out slamming the door shut.

Heath winced in pain, his whole body ached, he was too sore to rub away the stinging pain and he had no one to turn to, so he just laid on his bed and sobbed heavily into his pillow.

After searching for several hours, Brax arrived back home in a panic that he hadn't found Casey, only to see Casey in the lounge room. Brax ran to Casey and hugged him.

"Casey you're back and you're alright." Casey smiled at him.

Brax stood up and walked down to Heath's room, he was furious at Heath. Brax burst open the door and stormed over to Heath who sat quietly on his bed. Brax grabbed Heath's collar and pushed him down on the bed and raised his fist.

"Brax please don't" Heath begged, trying not to show he was in pain.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't pound you right now!" Brax yelled.

"Because Dad already did." Heath whimpered and winced in pain.

Brax saw Heath's eyes become glassy and relaxed his fist, pulling back from Heath. However he was still too angry at what he done to Casey to comfort him from Danny's abuse. Brax gave Heath a glare before he grabbed him and dragged him out into the lounge where Casey sat. Brax shoved Heath at Casey.

"How could you Heath? Look at him, he's your brother! He could have been seriously hurt! We may never have seen him again! Did you ever think about that?" Brax yelled.

"I don't care! I wish he'd never even been born! I hate him!" Heath replied hurt.

Brax glared at him shocked. "Don't you ever say that! Ever! Do you hear me! I have never been so disappointed in you Heath. I don't want to see or hear from you for the rest of the night." Brax added coldly.

This hit a nerve for Heath and he ran back to his room where he curled up on his bed and bit his lip to stop himself from crying all over again. All he wanted was for his family to notice him again and stop fussing over Casey, but it only made things worse, he was hated and unloved and that hurt more than any physical pain he was given.

After 7 o'clock Brax carried Casey to bed and read him a story. Casey loved Brax reading to him and loved pointing to the pictures. Brax tucked Casey in. "Night Case." Brax gave him a kiss on his forehead as he stroked his hair while Casey smiled then closed his eyes.

Brax left and looked down the hall to Heath's room. He had finally calmed down despite still not being too happy with Heath's behavior he knew he had to talk to him. Brax slowly opened Heath's door and noticed his brother slumped on his bed not looking towards the door.

"Heath." Brax spoke gently as he walked over to Heath's bed and sat down. Heath still didn't look up.

"I want to talk to you about what happened today." "Well I don't want to talk to you." Heath mumbled.

Brax sighed, "Look Heath, I'm not going to lie to you, what you done today, putting Casey in that dangerous situation I'm really angry at you. Why would you do something so stupid?" Heath didn't answer.

"Heath talk to me. What's bothering you?"

"Nothing. Leave me alone!" Heath grumbled.

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's wrong. So start talking." Heath ignored Brax.

"Heath." Brax pressed.

"I'm just… I'm sick of Casey getting all the attention. You never spend time with me anymore and Mum and Dad just yell and hit me. I just wanted you to care about me again." Heath mumbled.

"Heath I do care about you. You're my kid brother."

"Casey's your kid brother, not me. I'm nothing, to anyone." Heath replied quickly, but enough to alert Brax to what had his brother so upset.

Brax moved closer to Heath and pushed him around to face him. "Heath. That is not true. I love you" Brax said firmly.

Heath shrugged Brax's hand off his back and turned back away. "No you don't. You hate me." Heath spoke. His voice cracked as tears threatened to spill from his eyes.

Brax felt hurt that his brother could think such a thing. He had to compose himself to prevent tears welling in his own eyes.

"Why would you say that Heath?" Heath ignored Brax and sniffed. Brax saw Heath rub his nose on his sleeve.

"Heath, please tell me." Brax asked and gently placed his hand on his brother's back.

"Because you've been mean to me. You sent me to my room and grounded me. You've ever done that before...then today…. you...you said…" Heath stopped.

Brax remembered what he had said to Heath. "I was angry and just because I said I was disappointed with you doesn't mean that I hate you. I could never hate you."

Brax rubbed Heath's shoulder and noticed Heath wince. Heath turned and leaned up slightly. Brax sighed when he saw his younger brother's face all wet and red from tears.

"Heath I'm sorry if I made you think I didn't love you when I sent you to your room and grounded you. I didn't know how else to punish you for hurting Casey."

Heath shrugged and Brax rubbed Heath's arm. "I know I haven't spent much time with you lately Heath, but with Mum and Dad and trying to raise Casey as well as school, I barely have time and I know that's no excuse but..."

Heath glanced up at Brax. "You really don't hate that I was born, like I said about Casey?" Brax didn't know what to say and immediately pulled Heath into a hug.

"Don't you ever think that. I love you so much. You mean the world to me since you were born. I will always be here for you Heath, no matter what. You remember that okay? If you ever need to talk to someone you come to me, huh?" Heath nodded.

After a few moments Brax spoke again. "As for Casey, he needs us to look after him, he's just a baby. He needs his big brother to protect him, especially when I can't be around." Brax raised his eyebrows at Heath and smiled.

"Do you think you can do that? It's a big responsibility but I trust you with it." Heath quietly nodded. "I guess."

Brax smiled and gave Heath a squeeze, causing Heath to wince and cry out in pain.

"Oww."

Brax pulled away. "Dad really hurt you bad huh?"

Heath nodded as more tears fell down his face. "Show me." Brax encouraged.

Heath looked down before he pulled away from Brax and took off his shirt. Brax saw bruising all the way down Heath's arm and shoulder and around his upper body, but what shocked him the most was seeing the belt marks on his younger brother. How could that monster do that to his brother? Sure what he done was serious but it didn't warrant that kind of treatment.

Brax was taken out of thought when he heard Heath whisper. "He hit me there too." He pointed to his thigh and pelvis. Brax sighed.

"Heath, I'm so sorry. Come here." Brax pulled Heath into a gentle embrace, being careful not to hurt him. Heath began to hysterically cry in the arms of his older brother.

"Hey, you'll be okay. You just take it easy alright." Heath nodded as he cried into Brax's chest.

"I'm sorry Brax, I didn't really want to hurt Casey or mean what I said, I was just jealous of him. I'll never do anything to hurt him like that again. I promise."

"Don't worry about that now, I know you won't. It's okay." Brax held Heath until he calmed.

The following morning Heath sat quietly at the kitchen table he still felt sad over what had happened. Brax walked into the kitchen holding Casey.

"Hey mate" Brax smiled at Heath and placed Casey in his high chair. Brax stroked Heath's hair as he walked past to get Casey's breakfast. Brax placed Casey's breakfast in front of him and started to spoon feed him but Casey turned his head away and hit the table.

"What's up Case?" Brax asked. Casey pointed to Heath. "Hea. Hea."

Brax squinted his eyes at Casey trying to understand what he was trying to say, and then Casey finally spoke. "Heaf," and pointed again to Heath.

Brax smiled, Casey knew some basic words, but he had not yet mastered Brax's or Heath's name, until today. Heath glanced up.

"He called for you. See mate, he learns your name before mine, that's pretty special." Heath gave a weak smile. Brax nodded his head to encourage Heath to come over. Heath was hesitant.

"Come on, Casey wants you." Heath shook his head. "Heath, come on."

Heath hung his shoulders and walked towards Brax.

"Here" Brax handed Heath the spoon of food to give to Casey. Heath looked at Brax concerned.

"I...I can't"

Brax placed his hand around Heath's and guided the spoon towards Casey. "Heaf." Casey squealed and smiled.

Heath turned to smile at Brax who engulfed him in a hug and watched as he helped Heath feed Casey until all of Casey's breakfast was gone. Brax got up to clear away the dishes and Heath asked, "Brax? Why did you let me help? After all I did to Casey…"

Brax approached Heath and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Because he loves you and so do I."

Heath looked into his brother's eyes and for the first time in ages he felt loved. "Besides, you need to learn how to be a big brother." Heath smiled and nodded.

"Does that mean I can boss the little squirt around?" "Don't even try it." Brax replied as he raised his eyebrows and gave Heath a smile.