AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Sorry for the late update, enjoy and please let me know what you think. :)

Chapter 29 - Opening up

NORMAL POV

Casey's discovery of who he was had slowly been getting better as the days progressed, he still kept withdrawn and cut on occasion when the overwhelming thoughts rushed through him again.

Heath, Kyle, and Brax didn't push Casey to talk but allowed him to feel comfortable enough that he occasionally would talk to them, not so much about how he was feeling but just general conversation, but the brothers were pleased that Casey seemed to have made some progress and was looking on the mend for good.

Heath and Brax were getting ready to go for a surf, Kyle had gone to work and Casey was sitting at the kitchen table munching on some packet chips.

"Hey Case you wanna come?" Heath asked. Casey looked up from the table.

"I don't feel like surfing." Casey whispered.

Heath and Brax exchanged a glance. It wasn't like Casey to turn down a surf.

"Come on Case, you don't have to surf, just come to the beach with us. Heath and I would really benefit from your company." Brax added.

Casey sighed and stood up from the table. The fresh air might actually do him some good anyway he thought.

Heath ran out into the surf. "Hey you coming big fella?" Heath called.

"Nah mate, you go ahead." Brax called back.

Brax went and sat down on the sand next to Casey.

"You should go out, don't worry about me. I'm fine Brax." Casey said.

"I know...but I want you to know that you can talk to me Case. Have you got anything on your mind that you want to talk about?" Brax asked caringly.

Casey sighed. He was trying to fight his negative feelings so hard and believe he still shared a relationship with Brax, Heath, and Kyle, lately he had been winning and the first time since the revelation Casey started to open up about his feelings.

"Things are just so different, ya know? It's just so hard, knowing my life was a complete lie."

Brax placed a gently hand on Casey's shoulder. "Not everything Case. You still have Heath, Kyle and me. Don't you forget that."

"Brax can I tell you something?" Casey whispered and Brax gave a nod.

"Before I went to hospital and the first time I got drunk...I saw Andy." Casey whispered and stopped.

Brax clenched his fists, Andy he should have known he was the reason that pushed Casey over the edge.

"Did Andy say something to you?" Brax demanded. Casey sat silent.

"Case what did Andy say to you?"

Casey sighed. "He said I was a mistake and that I wasn't wanted in your family or anywhere and taunted how I wasn't a Braxton." Casey whispered.

Brax fumed, there was never any doubt Casey wasn't a Braxton even if he didn't have the same name. Brax felt like he could punch his fist through Andy's face right now, but he had to keep his temper in check, the last thing he wanted was for Casey to feel pressured by his emotions. He had to stay calm for Casey.

"Casey don't think for a minute what Andy said is the truth, understand?" Brax said in a soft but firm tone. Casey shrugged, wishing it was that easy.

Casey was about to pour more of his heart out to Brax when who should walk up the beach but Andy. Josh had told Andy about Casey's self injury that he saw, when he had gone to hospital and Andy just could not wait to have another thing to use against the Braxtons.

"Hey Emo boy! Been rejuvenating ya red blood cells lately?" Andy laughed as he approached Casey and Brax on the sand and motioned a cutting action on his arm.

Casey turned away feeling withdrawn.

"Back off Andy and shut your mouth!" Brax yelled, getting into a standing position, fighting all urge to knock Andy clean out.

"Ah come on. You can tell ya big brother. What's it like Casey, being some kind of weirdo that cuts themselves? Do you really think that is going to erase everything?" Andy laughed.

Brax couldn't control his temper anymore and landed a hefty punch to Andy's jaw, knocking him to the ground before landing a few more punches.

"How dare you say those things to Casey! I suggest you watch your back Andy!" Brax breathed heavily and stood up.

Andy rubbed his sore and bleeding chin and stood up. By now Heath had run up the sand and had seen Andy Barrett yelling and fighting with his brothers.

"Oi! What do you think ya doing Barrett? Get lost!"

"Well if it isn't protective Braxton number two." Andy taunted in a quiet tone.

"You get the hell out of here Barrett before I smash your face in too!" Heath warned.

Andy smirked and continued his taunting. "Casey I don't want you as my brother anymore than what you should exist, so next time do everyone a favor and aim right next time, so you'll be nobody's problem, if you get my drift. It's priceless how you two still fend for Casey, knowing he ain't fully ya family."

Andy turned to Heath and Brax as he finished. Andy's comment angered the brothers again.

"Don't you dare say that about my little brother!" Heath yelled.

"I'll kill you Barrett! My baby brother is not some person you can toy with! It's your fault he's hurting!" Brax yelled and this time Heath took a swing at Andy, knocking him in the jaw.

Andy righted himself again and laughed Heath's punch off, only angering Heath more, causing him to lunge at Andy again. Brax turned around to see Casey at the top of the beach, he stopped being part of the fight and yelled to Heath.

"Heath! Heath!"

Heath stopped and looked at his brother gesturing towards the top of the beach, to where Heath saw Casey. Heath pulled away from Andy, breathing heavily.

"Had enough have we?" Andy taunted. Brax gave a heavy sigh.

"Andy get the hell away from us and don't ever let me see you near my Casey again or I swear I will kill you." Brax threatened, raising his eyebrows.

Andy rubbed his jaw and backed away. "Have it your way Braxtons, but you won't stop seeing me around." Andy smirked and walked off.

Brax and Heath quickly ran up the beach following their younger brother. They reached Casey just in time for him to have gotten to the doorway of the gym.

"Casey are you alright?" Brax asked.

"Just leave me alone Brax." Casey mumbled.

Great all the hard effort to finally get Casey talking this morning and he's reverted back to shutting everyone out, Brax thought.

"Don't listen to that jerk Case, he's just trying to rile ya up." Heath said with encouragement.

"If he comes near you again he'll end up in hospital." Heath added.

Casey turned away. "Don't Heath."

"Don't what Case?" Brax asked.

"Don't go after Andy, he's right." Casey whispered.

"No he's not Casey! Don't you go saying that!" Brax argued in a firm tone.

"Brax is right, you've got a good heart, and you don't deserve this." Heath added, but Casey only moved away distraught.

Brax placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come on Case, let's go home."

Casey shrugged Brax's hand off. "I ah...just have to get something I left in the gym." Casey said wearily.

Heath and Brax shared a quizzical look, what Casey had just said did not sound right.

"I'll be out quick." Casey continued, seeing the looks on Brax and Heath's face.

Brax still was not convinced. "I'll come with you."

"No. I'll just be a minute." Casey replied quickly, giving a weak smile.

He did not want his brothers to follow him, he had to escape the world around him. Brax gave a nod in return not wanting to push his brother after he had come so far with his recovery.

"We'll wait out here for ya Case, but don't keep us waiting too long." Heath smiled, giving Casey a playful punch in the arm.

"Yeah." Casey replied quietly with a fake smile, knowing he had to do what he felt was right.

Walking into the gym Casey made sure no-one was around and quietly locked the door. This was it. The final time he was going to make everything right.