AUTHOR'S NOTE:

(To, 'guest', thank you for reading and reviewing. I promise Kyle will come into this story more after I finish this storyline in a few more chapters. Sorry.)

Casey's empathy towards his brother's mysterious behavior takes its toll when he finds himself in some dangerous trouble and what will happen when his brother's find out?

Enjoy :)

Chapter 68: Fire

Casey watched as his brother's continued to arrive home marking bruises and cuts over their face and body. He knew they were hiding something from him, as they kept shooing him away from every conversation they were having. He felt left out. They never involved him in anything anymore.

Casey sat on the couch watching TV when Heath and Brax walked through the door. Brax hushed Heath when he saw Casey. Casey turned to them worried.

"Are you alright?" Casey asked. "Far from it." Heath huffed.

"Heath." Brax growled in an attempt to shut his brother up. "We're fine mate. Nothing for you to worry about."

Brax gave a fake smile and encouraged Heath into the kitchen to talk in private. Casey stood outside the kitchen trying to listen in on his brother's conversation.

When Brax and Heath heard a sound behind them, they stopped. Brax walked around the side of the kitchen and saw Casey standing there. Brax gripped the back of Casey's shirt and pulled him into the kitchen doorway.

"What are you doing?" Brax asked as he raised his eyebrows.

"What do you want?" Heath snapped, clearly angry from the talk about Jake. Casey stared up at his older brothers.

"I wanted to know what you were talking about. You're always hiding things from me and never involving me anymore."

"Too bad! This doesn't concern you. Can't you get that through your thick head?" Heath pointed to his head. "Maybe we need to beat it into ya, huh?"

Heath waved his hands up towards Casey. Casey backed away but Brax still had a hold of his shirt. Brax let go of Casey's shirt and stepped towards Heath, placing a hand on his chest.

"Heath calm down." Brax turned back to Casey. "Casey I have told you this is nothing you need to worry about. Have you done all your homework?"

"Some." Casey mumbled.

"Well get and finish it." Brax told him, causing Casey to cast his eyes downwards. "And don't ever let me catch you eavesdropping on mine and Heath's conversations again, do you understand me?"

"Yes Brax." Casey whispered. "Good. Now out!" Brax ordered as he pointed out of the room.

Casey left after glancing one more time at his brothers. "Stupid kid needs to learn to mind his own business." Heath stated.

"Unlike some." Brax groaned.

"Hey this war with Jake isn't just because I got involved."

"No, but it ain't making it any easier." Brax replied, gently placing a cold towel on one of his bruises.

The next day Casey followed Heath towards Jake's place to find out what was going on. He hated disobeying Brax's orders, but knowing his brothers and only family were getting hurt, it terrified him.

Heath was sussing out Jake's place to try and get him framed for drug possession as Brax had a tip off that Jake was dealing and knew if he could frame him it would end the war.

When Casey saw Heath leave, he quickly hid, but could see Heath on the phone to Brax and from what he heard last night they were going to confront the gang again. When all was clear, Casey snuck down to Jake's cabin.

When Casey opened the door he caught a whiff of a strong smell he had never experienced before, he saw grass plants in pots and powdered substances on the cupboards. Looking around, Casey saw some aerosol cans and got an idea.

Once Casey found some matches he grabbed the aerosol cans and prepared to start a fire. He had no idea on what he was doing, having only seen it done in movies, but he had to do something to stop all the fighting. Casey punctured the can and lighting a match, quickly tossed the can and match towards one of the potted plants. Casey had no idea that the can would explode fast and cause a fire to rip through at lightning speed.

Casey started to panic and backed closer towards the door, but the fire had knocked down a cupboard, blocking his escape. Casey looked around for another way out as the flames roared around him and the smoke was affecting his lungs.

Casey ran from room to room, he could hear the roof collapsing and the cracking of wood. Casey was terrified. He needed to get out before the cabin collapsed, and worst of all no-one knew he was there.

Casey reached a back door but the heat of the flames around him made the whole cabin well beyond boiling. Casey touched the handle and quickly pulled back screaming. "Ow!"

Casey looked at his dark red palms. He was so distressed and scared. Tears ran down his face at a rapid rate. He knew this was his only way out and he had to try, he didn't have much more time, flames were fast behind him.

Casey grabbed the handle again with both hands and pulled hard. The door finally gave way, forcing Casey to fall backwards onto the ground. Casey quickly got up, and ran out the door and as far away from the cabin as possible.

Casey doubled over, coughing, his hands were stinging, and he was covered in ash. Casey took a look back and saw the cabin collapse to the ground. Casey quickly ran back home as fast as he could, he wanted to get away from everything as quick as possible.