AUTHOR'S NOTE:
The first two parts of Brax's dreams are memories, the final part is more a fear and is sad.
Chapter 18 – The dream
NORMAL POV
(Dream sequence 1-past)
Brax was again walking into the Mangrove River High school to deal with his 14 year old youngest brother, after being called in that he had started a fight with another student.
"What happened this time Casey?" Brax demanded.
"The kid just called me dumb okay!" Casey snapped.
"Oi! Don't you raise your voice to me! Just because someone calls you names does not mean you give them a bloody nose and black eye!" Brax said sternly.
The principle entered the room.
"Thank you for coming in Mr. Braxton, as we were unable to get in contact with your mother and as Casey's secondary contact, we regret to inform you that Casey is suspended from school for the next three weeks. This is the final straw and if Casey is caught fighting on school grounds again he will be immediately expelled." The principle informed Brax.
Brax nodded and glared at Casey. "Don't worry, it won't. Will it Casey?" Brax warned.
"No" Casey mumbled.
"Sorry?" Brax questioned firmly.
Casey slumped. "I said no Brax." Casey replied louder.
"It had better not." Brax warned.
"Look, we understand your brother struggles because of his learning disability but our student safety is our most important priority."
"I understand, but that's no excuse. Come on Casey." Brax ordered and walked out of the Principles office shoving his brother towards his car.
Casey tried to block out Brax's yelling. "Casey you know how much I want you to get a good education so you can get a better life than what we have and this constant punching...Casey, are you listening?" Brax ended with a shout.
"It's hard not to." Casey mumbled and rolled his eyes, but it was loud enough for Brax to hear and he shoved his brother around to face him.
"Pardon? You wanna choose now to give me attitude? I'm not in the mood Casey. This punching people business has to stop!" Brax said sternly.
"I can't help it! You know I lash out when things don't go my way and that kid was being nothing but a damn butt hole!" Casey yelled.
Brax stopped him at the car and pushed his chest. "Oi! You watch your language. Where do you get this stuff from?" Brax questioned.
"It's called school Brax, you know the place you so desperately want me to go." Casey spat back, only to find Brax giving him an unimpressed look.
"Don't get smart." Brax warned and pointed at him.
Casey scoffed and was about to open his mouth with a comeback but Brax glared at him, knowing exactly what remark he was about to come out with.
"Don't even think about it." Brax warned.
Casey sighed. "I don't see why I have to go to school. You and Heath didn't!" Casey protested.
"I want different for you."
"Why? Because I'm too dumb to be like you or Heath with my stupid learning problem!" Casey snapped.
"No, you're a smart kid and have a lot going for ya, that is unless you don't stop getting into fights." Casey turned away.
"I don't want to get called about you fighting again Casey, do I make myself clear? Otherwise I'm gonna give ya something to worry about more than what some kid calling you names would." Brax warned.
"Fine." Casey mumbled and turned away defeated.
"Good. Now when we get home you can expect to be doing nothing but study the whole three weeks of your suspension, including surfing."
Casey opened his mouth in shock. "Brax." Casey protested.
"What? You wanna argue with me Casey?" Brax questioned, raising his eyebrows.
"No." Casey whispered.
"Get in the car." Brax shoved Casey into his car.
(End dream)
(Dream sequence 2)
Heath, Brax and Casey walked towards the ocean as the waves crashed in front of them. They had not gone for a surf together since before Danny had been released from jail. Danny coming back into their lives had caused plenty of tension between the brothers, so this was their way of moving on.
"Looks great huh?" Heath spoke.
"Yup. I hope you boys are ready to be wiped out by the best." Brax joked and Casey laughed.
"Race you." Casey took off down the sand, quickly followed by Heath.
"Hey wait for me!" Brax yelled with a laugh.
Heath and Casey were play fighting waiting for Brax to reach them. Brax smiled and shook his head.
"Grow up you two!" Brax gave a laugh.
"It ain't our fault you're getting too old for our fun!" Casey joked and Heath burst out laughing.
Brax raised his eyebrows. "Oi, what's with the old jokes huh?" Brax ruffled up Casey's hair.
"We gonna do this or what are we, girls?" Heath joked.
The three brothers smiled and ran into the surf, paddling out into the water together. The strength of their brotherly bond shining through as they each wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders, as they floated on the water.
The boys broke apart and swam further into the ocean, standing up on their boards, riding the wave. They each looked over at each other and smiled. Right then nothing seemed more perfect...
(End dream)
(Dream sequence 3)
Brax stood next to his brothers, Heath and Kyle. All three were dressed in black suits with a withdrawn look on their face. The groundskeeper of the cemetery placed the cloth over the coffin in the ground. Brax clenched his fists as Heath wrapped each of his arms around his brothers, Kyle and Brax returning the gesture. Life would just not be the same without Casey...Without Casey...
(End dream)
Brax startled awake from his dream, he was breathing heavily and was trying to bring himself back to reality. He could believe he had just dreamt that Casey had died.
Tears sprung in Brax's eyes as he grasped Casey's hand tightly, shaking it in his own as he tried not to cry. Brax felt a twitch in his hand and his heart raced. Gently placing Casey's hand back down on the bed he stared at his brother for any sign of movement. He was sure he felt something, he couldn't still be dreaming.
"Hey how's it going?"
Brax was interrupted in his thought when he heard the voice of Heath behind him. Brax turned to face his brothers.
"What's wrong?" Kyle asked, sensing the unusual presence of Brax's demeanor.
Brax gave a sigh of relief. "I think I felt Casey's hand twitch."
Kyle and Heath gave a surprised look and Heath ran over to the bed and held Casey's hand.
"Case can you hear me? Wake up mate." Heath said but there was no response.
Heath gave Kyle a look of worry, but it was not overlooked by Brax who stood up.
"What? You don't believe me?" Brax defended.
Kyle walked over to Brax and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Brax you've been really tired and Case being here has been really hard on you."
Brax shrugged Kyle off angrily. "I can't believe you two! I know what I felt and I'm fine!" Brax shouted.
The brother's were interrupted when Nate walked through the door.
"Is everything alright? I heard shouting." Nate asked concerned. The three stared at Nate.
"Casey twitched his hand." Brax stated.
Nate quickly rushed over to Casey's bedside and assessed his reflexes and vitals. Nate glanced at Brax then towards Heath and Kyle.
"What's the verdict doc?" Heath questioned.
Nate sighed. "Casey's eye reflexes have improved but there is no response from any of his extremities." Heath and Kyle slumped.
"No! Check it again! He was moving! I know he was!" Brax shouted distressed as he watched his brother motionless.
"Brax you have been struggling a lot..." Nate started.
"No! Don't you dare tell me that I imagined it, like these two over here, just because I've been stressed or had no sleep!" Brax yelled.
"Brax please calm down. Casey is not showing enough response and I must press the risks of Casey never recovering or being able to function." Nate explained.
Brax glared at Nate. "You're giving up on him?" Brax demanded.
"I'm just preparing you for the worst." Nate explained.
"Well don't Nate! Casey is going to be just fine! He's gonna be fine!" Brax shouted and ran his hands through his hair frustrated.
Brax paced the room before letting out a loud frustrated yell and kicking the chair across the room.
"Brax." Nate started but Heath stopped him, knowing that when his older brother was in this state it was best to leave him alone.
"I'll come back later." Nate added as he watched Brax on his way out from leaving the room. Kyle followed Nate out of the room.
"Nate!" Nate turned back to Kyle.
"How bad is it likely to be?" Kyle asked.
"For someone who has fallen into a coma through substance abuse and near drowning, their risks of coming through in a highly reduced functioning rate or vegetative state are incredibly high. I'm talking 80-90 percent." Nate explained.
Kyle sighed. "But that doesn't mean everyone turns out like that though?" Kyle asked hoping Casey still had a fighting chance.
"Well, no, a small few people have recovered with very little effect, but that is very rare. One would have to be very lucky. That's why I want to prepare you all of what you might need to do for Casey when he wakes up."
Kyle sighed defeated. "Thanks."
Nate gave a nod and walked off down the hospital hallway.
Kyle re-entered Casey's hospital room and noticed the chair that Brax had kicked over had been righted and Brax was now sitting down with his head in his hands while Heath stood day-dreaming out the window.
"I just spoke to Nate." Kyle whispered. Heath turned and Brax glanced up slightly.
"He said there is a rare chance Casey will make it out of this fully functional."
Heath shook his head and stormed out of the room. Kyle slumped defeated, he hated watching his brothers hurting so much and feeling so helpless, even though he cared for Casey too it was nowhere as intense as what Heath and Brax would be going through.
"Brax, are you alright?" Kyle asked his brother.
Brax looked at Kyle. "Yeah...I really believed Casey twitched ya know." Brax replied, feeling like he had lost all his faith.
Kyle nodded, "That's because you wanted him to. To know he was on his way to pulling through. You out of all of us had the most faith in him." Kyle replied gently.
Kyle had never seen Brax so vulnerable, he was always the strong one in the family, hiding his feelings, yet here he was, completely torn and it worried Kyle.
Brax was the rock that held them all together, always helping them all out and yet now Brax's barriers had seemed to crack.