AUTHORS NOTE:
Now comes the start of the really emotional, sad stuff.
Hope you all enjoy and please let me know what you think. :)
Chapter 54: Social services
Brax sat in the hospital room next to Casey's bed after his altercation with Heath. Brax was playing games with Casey to bide time until he was ready to go home, both were laughing and joking until they were interrupted when a man wearing a flashy suit entered the room, causing Brax to look up.
"Hello Mr Braxton? I'm Mr Stevenson from social services. The hospital notified me of Casey's case, now until we investigate further Casey will need to come with us for proper care."
Casey looked up at his big brother. "You've got this all wrong. What happened was just an accident. I assure you it won't happen again." Brax spoke.
"We cannot guarantee that..."
"Please don't take Casey away." Brax quickly begged.
Casey tugged his shirt. "Brax what's going on?" Brax ignored Casey's question.
"Now Mr Braxton, it's in the hands of the social system now and is the law that we investigate this situation. We need to consider the safety of Casey. Now if you do not comply I will be forced to have you arrested."
Brax sat shocked, he couldn't have that. Who would look after the house and Heath? As much as he didn't want to let Casey go, the social worker wasn't giving him much choice.
"Come on Casey, it's time to come with us." The man spoke.
Casey looked confused and grabbed Brax. "What are they saying Brax?" Casey began to panic.
Brax sighed, how was he going to explain this to Casey?
"Please just give me a few minutes with him." Brax asked.
"Five minutes then he comes with us." The social worker stated and exited the room.
Brax felt defeated and looked down at Casey. "What's going on Brax?" Casey asked again.
Brax placed a hand on his shoulder. "Case mate listen. That was someone from social services they are going to be taking you to stay at a group home for a while."
Casey pouted and whined. "What did I do?"
"It's not that Case, the doctor had to report to social services what happened because you took something illegal and before they can let you live back at home, they have to do some investigating."
"But I don't wanna go with them." Casey whined.
"I know Case but we have no choice. I promise I will get you back real soon." Brax tried to reassure his brother but Casey only shook his head.
"No Brax! Please! I won't be bad anymore I promise!" Casey whined, close to tears.
It broke Brax's heart to hear Casey's pleas. "Casey this isn't your fault, it's just what has to happen after something like this."
"But if I hadn't been bad…" He trailed off then clung onto Brax, remembering what his father had threatened years ago, and now it was coming true.
"I don't wanna go!" Casey whined as a single tear slipped down his face.
Brax wrapped his arms tightly around Casey. "It'll be alright Casey you will get to come home soon. It'll be just like a holiday." Brax gave a small smile, trying to comfort Casey's fears.
The social worker walked back into the room. "Right, you've had enough time. Casey get your stuff, it's time to go."
Brax got up to help pack Casey's belongings but Casey didn't move.
"No! I'm not going!" Casey shouted and hit his fists on the bed agitated.
"Casey we do not have time for this." The social worker said sternly.
"No! You can't make me go! I'm staying with Brax!" Casey yelled and grabbed anything he could get his hands on to toss towards the social worker violently.
"Casey!" Brax scolded as he rushed to his side, grabbing him to calm him down.
Casey struggled in Brax's grip, kicking his legs violently. "Casey stop it!" Brax ordered in a firm tone, but Casey continued.
"No! Don't make me go! Don't make me go!" He yelled and began to cry.
"Casey calm down." Brax ordered again but Casey still continued to struggle.
"See this boy has no discipline, he needs proper guidance." The social worker stated.
This angered Brax and he turned to the social worker. "You don't tell me how to raise my brother!" He yelled.
Casey latched onto the hospital bed screaming. Brax grabbed him again, feeling agitated by the whole situation, he hated seeing Casey act like this and he didn't want to prolong the situation anymore and he knew it wouldn't help his brother emotionally the longer it went on. So steeling himself Brax prepared for the ultimate and hardest thing he would have to do.
"Casey you let go of this bed right now! You go with these people and you do as you're told, before I get real angry with you!" Brax yelled as he pried Casey's hands off the bed.
Casey stared up at his brother, tears falling and fear in his eyes, but despite this Brax kept his stern gaze, hiding his feel of dread about the whole situation inside.
Casey reached up and wrapped his arms around Brax's body. "I'm sorry Brax." Casey cried. "Please don't send me away. I don't wanna go with those strangers. I really promise I'll be good."
Brax softened and held Casey close. "Case you are good and believe me when I tell you that I don't want you to go either, but you have too." Brax spoke softly.
"Well I think we've had about enough of this troublesome behavior. Casey come here now." The social worker ordered in a harsh tone.
Casey pulled away from his brother and stared at him with fear. Getting no response from Casey, the social worker walked up to Casey and grabbed his hand tightly, pulling him away from his brother and towards the door, resulting in more screams from Casey.
"You stop that Casey! There will be no tantrums like this at the group home!" The social worker snapped.
"Hey!" Brax shouted. "Don't man handle my brother!"
The social worker turned to Brax with an unapproved look on his face. "This boy is in need of strict discipline."
"That doesn't mean you have to yell at him and shove him around!" Brax yelled angered.
"Mr Braxton I will thank you not to speak that way to me. Casey is our responsibility now and his unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated by us and we will treat him as we see fit. Now if you'll excuse us, we have places to get back to."
Brax stood stunned and grew more worried, these people couldn't handle Casey's anger outbursts, they didn't understand him like he did, but there was nothing he could do.
"At least let me say goodbye" Brax pleaded.
"Fine make it quick!" The social worker snapped.
Brax crouched down and gave Casey a hug. "Remember what I said. This is not your fault, you hear me? I'll be back soon. You be a good boy okay. I love you so much Casey."
Brax gave Casey a kiss on the forehead and watched helplessly as Casey was pulled away, staring back at his big brother with tears falling down his face.
Brax sat down on the hospital bed, running his hand through his hair. He felt like he failed, he was meant to protect his brothers, but now Casey had been taken away.
He entered the house and slammed the door. He saw his mother drunk on the sofa, she had been away for several days with some guys she met at the pub, so had no idea what had happened.
"Arg! Don't slam the door!" She groaned. Brax ignored her and was about to walk away, but turned back.
"Casey's been taken away. If we can't prove he's safe here we'll never see him again!"
"What are you babbling about Darryl?"
"You have to stop your drinking and gambling, otherwise Casey won't be allowed back!" Brax yelled, getting fired up over loosing Casey.
"When did this happen?" Cheryl accused.
"Today Mum! Social services took him away at the hospital."
"Why was he at the hospital?" Cheryl demanded.
Brax sighed this was something he did not want to tell his parents about.
"Why was he at the hospital Darryl?" Cheryl questioned again.
"He took speed and almost died."
"What! That stupid boy! I'd have given him what for, not taken him to some damn hospital! How could you let this happen Darryl? You're always so big on making out you can be responsible for him!"
"How can you?..." Brax was about to argue with his mother over her comment but her stares and his guilty conscious got the better of him and he sighed defeated. "I know but..."
"But nothing! You let them take Casey away and nose into your business!"
Brax could not handle this right now. "Well at least I have made the effort to care for him, unlike you and Dad, who can't even stay home and look after your own kids! You're a pathetic drunk! Don't tell me I'm irresponsible!" Brax yelled.
Cheryl slapped Brax harshly across the face and glared at him. "Don't you dare speak to me like that Darryl! I am still your mother!"
Brax glared daggers at Cheryl before storming into his room and collapsing onto his bed, thoughts about Casey running through his mind, hoping his baby brother was okay.