AUTHORS NOTE:

Next chapters to come: Brax finally discovers what Casey has been hiding as Kyle uses drastic measures in his bullying and Kyle begins to learn some truth about his father.

Enjoy :)

Chapter 47: Run in with a bully take two

A few days later Brax told Casey he would have to catch the bus and wait at his stop in Mangrove River, for his mate to come and pick him up as he had to work until 5pm and Heath was over at a mates place and could not pick Casey up. Casey was reluctant to catch the bus as it meant he was alone with his bully.

Casey sat quietly in his seat hoping to avoid confrontation with Kyle who sat at the back of the bus. Casey felt paper being thrown at him.

"Hey kid!" Kyle walked up to Casey. "I'm talking to you. What do you think you're doing on this bus?" Casey didn't answer.

"Hey cry baby, answer me!"

Before Casey could answer the bus driver yelled, "Everyone back in your seats."

Kyle glared at Casey. "Next stop you're getting off."

"But that's not my stop."

"I don't care you cry baby. You either get off or you get my fist in your face." He threatened.

Casey looked at him frightened, he didn't want to get hurt, but didn't want to disobey Brax either. As the bus pulled up to the next stop, Kyle glared at Casey clenching his fists.

"Anyone getting off at this stop?" The bus driver yelled.

Kyle yelled from the back. "Just this one kid."

Kyle walked to Casey and grabbed him. "See ya later wimp."

Kyle pushed Casey towards the exit. Too afraid to retaliate Casey allowed Kyle to shove him off the bus. Casey looked around as the bus doors closed, he had no idea where he was or how to get home. It begun to get dark and he felt scared. Casey walked up to a nearby building with a sign reading surf club and sat down outside and cried.

Meanwhile, Brax's friend walked into his work. "Hey mate."

"Hey. Did Case get home okay?" Brax asked.

"Didn't you pick him up?" Brax looked at him confused.

"What? No, that's why I asked you, I couldn't. Why?"

"I waited there for ages and he never showed up."

A vague expression ran over Brax's face and he grabbed his phone, and quickly called Heath. "Heath did you pick Case up from school?"

"No. Why?"

"Because he wasn't at the bus stop."

"Where is he then?"

"I don't know. Look can you come home early."

"Brax I'm at my mates place tonight. You said I could hang with him tonight. Why do I have to come home because that squirt goes missing?"

Brax sighed. "Mate I know, just do this for me please."

Heath huffed and hung up the phone. Brax slammed his hands down on the bench.

"Heath hasn't seen him either?" Brax's friend asked and Brax shook his head.

"Mate, I'm sorry."

Brax waved him off. "It's not your fault. I just hope Casey's okay, but where is he? If he's gone running away from school again...What if something's happened to him? He's really gonna get it when I find him!" He shouted and let out a worried sigh.

Casey wished Brax was there as he sat all alone in this strange place. He startled when he felt a man touch his shoulder.

"Hey there little fella, why all the water works?" Casey stared up at the man. He appeared friendly and non-threatening and something about him made Casey feel safe.

"Where's your parents kid?" Casey turned away.

The man saw how petrified Casey looked. "Alright little fella, I understand don't talk to strangers."

"I'm lost and I wanna go home." Casey sobbed.

"Ease up little fella. Do you have someone I can call, to come get you?"

"My…My brother…Brax" Casey voice cracked as he spoke.

The man still with his hand on Casey's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Okay, well why don't we get you settled inside, I'll fix you something to drink, and we can call this brother of yours." Casey nodded and is guided inside by the man.

The man placed a milkshake down on the table for Casey and sat opposite him.

"Now can you tell me Brax's number?"

Casey takes a sip of his milkshake and as he opened his mouth to speak he realized he didn't remember Brax's number. Casey shifted in his seat before crying again. The man got up to put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Settle down fella."

"I…I don't re…remember…the number."

"Alright. What else can you tell me? Does your brother work?" Casey nodded.

"He…he works at…I don't know the name…Just some place where you buy everyday stuff." Casey cried. "I know it's…it's a place near the beach at Man...grove river."

The man was shocked Mangrove River was a far distance away, why was this kid here? The man thought and was pretty certain he knew the place Casey was referring too.

"Okay, let me just call someone and I'll see what I can do for you." Casey nodded as the man walked away.

The man dialed the number of the supermarket. "Hello?"

"Yeah, G'day mate. I'm looking for a man named Brax, does he work there?"

"Hang on." Brax was about to leave work when he was called back. "Brax, there's a phone call for you."

"Can't you just take a message? I need to go out and find my brother."

"He sounded like he really needed to talk to you." Brax sighed as the worker handed him the phone.

"Hello" Brax answered cautiously.

"G'day, this is Alf Stewart here. I seem to have found a missing brother of yours."

"Casey?"

"He didn't tell me his name but he's pretty scared and lost."

"Where is he?"

"He's safe here at the surf club."

"Right I'll be right there. Thank you.' Brax hung up and rushed out to the bus stop to catch the next bus to the surf club.

Brax made his way to the surf club and rushed inside where he saw Casey sitting at a table with a milkshake. Brax ran over to him and gave him a tight hug.

"Casey what are you doing here? I told you that you would be in big trouble if you took off from school again and yet here you are!" Brax yelled.

Casey was close to tears again and avoided his brother's gaze. "I…I...didn't...I got off at the wrong stop." He lied.

"How Casey? I went over and over with you where you had to get off!" Brax shouted. Casey looked away.

"I...know...I'm really sorry Brax." Casey started to cry again.

Brax sighed. "Casey you are 6 years old. I do not want you wandering the streets without an adult. It's very dangerous." Brax spoke in a soft yet firm tone.

"But Heath's not an adult and I have to go home with him sometimes." Casey whispered.

"Yes I know, but Heath is much older than you and can look out for you. Is something going on that you need to tell me?" Casey shook his head. However Brax wasn't overly convinced.

Alf came out and saw a man talking to Casey. "Hi I'm Alf Stewart, I was the one that found this young fella wandering around."

Brax stood up. "Brax, I'm Casey's brother. Thank you for contacting me to let me know where Casey was." He shook Alf's hand.

"No problem, I'm just glad the young fella didn't run into any trouble out there." Brax nodded.

"Come on Case." Brax rested his hand on Casey's shoulder as Casey looked up at his brother.

"Brax, can I please finish my milkshake?" Casey whispered nervously. Brax sighed.

"Alright, but be quick we have to get home." Casey quickly finished and took his brothers hand so they could head home.

When Brax and Casey walked inside Heath looked at them from the kitchen table. Heath chuckled when he saw Casey.

"Where did you get to squirt?" Casey grunted at Heath's teasing.

"Shut it Heath, leave Casey alone." Brax yelled.

"Hey I'm just askin'. You're lucky you got home in time before Mum or Dad found out where you were." He threatened.

Before anyone could answer Danny burst through the door, startling Casey and silencing Heath and Brax.

"Before we found out what?" He questioned angrily as he walked over to Heath.

Heath looked at the terrified look on Casey's face. "Nothing."

Danny groaned and smacked Heath across the face before exiting to lie down on the couch.

Brax ran over to Heath who had a red mark near his mouth. Casey walked over to his brother too. "Are you okay Heath?" He asked quietly.

"Shut up kid!" Heath snapped. Brax turned to Casey. "Case mate could you please get those plates over on the counter and set the table for me."

Casey wandered off, leaving Brax to help Heath. Brax tried checking the severity of the hit but Heath angrily refused.

"Back off Brax!" After some argument Heath stood up and stormed out, slamming his bedroom door and placed his headphones on.

Brax smiled at Casey as he set up the table. Brax organized dinner but only he and Casey sat down to eat, his father had passed out on the couch, their mother was still at the club gambling and Heath didn't want to leave his room.

Casey helped Brax do the dishes before Brax led Casey to his bedroom to go to bed. Casey got in his pajamas and looked up at Brax who was waiting to tuck him into bed.

"Brax...I am sorry for not getting off the bus where you asked." Casey whispered.

Brax smiled at Casey. "It's okay now Case, I'm not mad at you anymore, but if there is anything wrong you know you can always come talk to me."

Casey nodded. "Nothing is wrong." Casey continued to lie.

"Alright then, just don't let it happen again. I won't be so easy on you next time." Brax warned, raising his eyebrow.

"You weren't easy this time, you yelled lots." Casey pouted.

Brax raised his eyebrows with a smirk. "That so huh? Well if you do it again you'll see just how mad I can get."

"No!" Casey squealed and jumped onto his bed covering his face. Brax shook his head and laughed.

"Come on, get into bed." Brax said as he gently tapped Casey's back.

Casey climbed into bed and Brax covered him over, brushing his hair back. "Goodnight Case."

"Brax, can you please read me a story and stay with me till I fall asleep?" Casey asked.

Brax smiled. "Sure Case."

Brax grabbed Casey's favorite book off the shelf and sat down next to him. Before Brax could start reading Casey held out his arms and Brax moved in closer where Casey then wrapped his arms tightly around his big brother and snuggled his face into his side, causing Brax to smile.

"You're the best big brother ever Brax." Casey stated, smiling up at Brax.

"Thanks Case and don't you ever forget it." Brax winked and opened the book to start reading as Casey lay back down.

After reading a few pages, Casey had fallen asleep. Brax gave Casey a kiss on the head and left the room.

Brax sighed at the mess his father made in the living room as he headed towards Heath's room. Brax gently knocked on the door.

"Heath, its Brax." He heard Heath groan and opened the door.

Heath was sitting on his bed listening to music. Brax walked over to him and sat on his bed.

"Hey mate are you alright? I left a plate of food in the kitchen for you."

"Thanks" Heath grunted. Brax sighed.

"Look what happened today, Dad shouldn't have hit you."

"What's new?" Heath replied.

"I know its hard Heath, but there isn't much more we can do, we just have to stay strong."

"That's easy for you to say you can leave anytime you want, you have a job, you're old enough."

"I'm not going anywhere Heath. You and Case are my family and I have to look after you both." Heath shook his head and turned away.

"Is there something you want to talk about?" Brax asked.

"Why does Dad have to hit me for? I wasn't even the one that wandered off and came back late."

Before Brax could answer Heath got worked up. "I'm sick of taking the slack for Casey all the time, all he ever does is make trouble."

"You can't blame Casey for Dad's behavior, he's abusive, and that's just him, no matter what. And Casey's a kid Heath, he needs you to protect him from that abuse, you know how horrible it is, he doesn't need to go through that too."

"Right" Heath replied shortly.

Brax got up off the bed and left the room. Brax walked down to his bedroom and flopped down on his bed. It was a tough job raising his two brothers, but he wouldn't change it for the world, he loved them both with everything he had, no matter what was thrown at him.