AUTHOR'S NOTE: Many thanks to everyone still reading, reviewing and supporting this story!
Back at the Braxton house, Marilyn is quietly cleaning the kitchen benches and dining table when she hears a slight groan coming from the boy's room.
She makes her way down to the room and enters, seeing Casey tossing and then hesitantly pulling himself to sit up.
"Are you okay Darling?" Marilyn asks in a sweet tone.
Casey looks up wearily.
"What are you doing here? Where's Brax?" Casey mumbles, groggily.
"Brax has popped out for a short while to pick Kyle up from school. Are you feeling queasy still?" Marilyn responds.
"Why is Kyle having to get picked up for?" Casey says in a moan.
"It's not my place to say, Darling, and besides it's nothing you need to worry about," Marilyn says gently and approaches the bed.
"Can I get you the bucket or do you need a damp cloth?"
Casey shakes his head.
"I just have a headache now and my stomach feels kind of empty and still a little queasy," Casey mumbles.
"Well how about I make you some fresh chicken and vegetable noodle soup?" Marilyn suggests.
Casey just moans in response and places his hand on his head and flops back down against his pillow.
Marilyn goes out to the kitchen to find some fresh vegetables to cook up and blend and some chicken soup broth and after mixing it together she adds some cooked noodles and takes a small bowl back into the bedroom for Casey.
"Here you go, Darling. Now just be careful it might be very hot, but it will help keep your strength and fluids up and be easy on your stomach," Marilyn informs.
Still not feeling sure given the last time he vomited just after Brax gave him some juice, but feeling the emptiness in his stomach, Casey takes a small slurp of the hearty soup, grateful that he seemed to be keeping it down and able to fill his stomach.
Casey places the empty bowl on the cupboard and rests back against his pillow, sleepily opening and shutting his eyes.
Marilyn arrives back into the room and sees the bowl empty on the cupboard.
"Did you have enough, sweetheart?" she asks Casey, who nods slightly.
"Yes, thank you. When is Brax coming back; is he home yet?"
"No, he's not yet, but I'm sure he'll be home soon, and he'll be here for you," Marilyn assures, giving Casey a comforting smile.
"I want Brax," Casey whines, beginning to feel a little hot again as he shifts a little in his sheets in agitation.
"I know Darling, but just relax," Marilyn comforts and gently pats Casey's arm.
"I feel hot," Casey moans.
"Why don't I get a cool cloth and check your temperature again?"
Casey doesn't respond and lies quietly.
Marilyn soon returns and checks Casey's temperature, which has climbed to 39.9 degrees, and she considers contacting Brax, but decides against it hoping the eldest would return home soon anyway.
Marilyn places the cool towel on Casey's forehead and Casey shuts his eyes.
Marilyn leaves and lets the sick teen sleep again.
About forty minutes later Brax and Kyle arrive back home.
Kyle shuffles in behind Brax with his head down shamefully.
"Hey Marilyn, was Casey, okay?" Brax asks as he enters.
"He was fine, he only had a bit of a high temperature a little while ago but is sleeping again and I made him some soup, in which there is plenty on the stove for both of you," Marilyn replies.
Brax smiles, "Thanks, Marilyn. That's really thoughtful of you."
Marilyn then turns to Kyle, "Hi Darling; are you okay? It must have been terrible and awfully frightening."
Kyle doesn't look up from the floor as his cheeks redden with embarrassment wondering just what Brax had said to her, at least he was sure she didn't know exactly what had happened.
Kyle shrugs his shoulders not wanting to answer or talk to anyone.
"He's had a big day," Brax responds, causing Marilyn to smile in sympathy.
"I understand."
"Thanks again for everything," Brax praises.
"Anytime Brax and if you need anything over the next few days you just let me know," Marilyn says, and as she walks towards the door she gives Kyle a small comforting pat on the arm to which Kyle flinches, not wanting to be touched by anyone after his incident.
Feeling sympathetic towards the teen, Marilyn takes no offence and exits the Braxton house.
Brax looks at Kyle with concern and gently places his hands on his shoulders.
"You okay?" Brax whispers with great concern for his brother.
Kyle slightly shakes his head.
"Why don't you go for a shower and clean yourself up, just make sure you don't get too close to Casey when you go in your bedroom; I don't want you to catch anything. In fact, I'll come too so I can check on Casey and move your things into my bedroom so you can sleep in there tonight."
Kyle nods and quietly shuffles down towards the bedroom with Brax following close behind.
Casey stirs when he hears Brax and Kyle enter.
"Brax?" Casey calls.
"Yeah, Champ; I'm here. How are you doing?" Brax says softly and runs his hand over Casey's hair.
"I had some soup Marilyn made and kept it down, but I still don't feel good," Casey mumbles.
"That's good you ate something, Case, and it's going to take a while before you are on the mend."
Casey snuggles in his bed and shivers, now feeling cold. He focuses on Kyle on the other side of the room.
"Is Kyle okay?" he asks.
Brax glances over at Kyle who suddenly stops gathering his clothes.
"Just leave it for now, Case," Brax says.
Kyle turns to walk out of the room with his pyjamas and oodie when he looks at Casey shivering away.
"Would you like to wear my Hufflepuff oodie?" Kyle offers in a quiet tone and holds out his yellow oodie.
Despite feeling somewhat concerned over Casey vomiting on it, Kyle was more concerned over Casey's comfort.
"That's very kind of you Kyle, but you don't need to do that," Brax says.
"It's okay, I want Casey to be comfortable," Kyle says quietly.
"What do you say, Case?" Brax asks, as Casey shrugs.
Brax takes Kyle's oodie and encourages Casey to sit up and helps him put the oodie on then Casey lies back in his bed feeling warm and cosy.
"Thank you, Ky," Casey mumbles.
"That's okay. I hope you start feeling better soon," Kyle mumbles and walks out of the room towards the bathroom.
Kyle lets the hot water of the shower wash over him and tries to erase the trauma of the day but no matter how hard he tries the thoughts just would not leave his mind.
While Kyle takes his time in the shower Brax starts to grab Kyle's belongings and goes to make his way into his bedroom when Casey calls out to him.
"Where are you going? Don't leave…please."
"I'm just taking Kyle's things into my room as he can't stay in here with you while you are so sick," Brax explains.
"I don't want to be on my own," Casey whines.
"You won't be, Case. I'll be staying in here with you tonight in the sleeping bag," Brax replies and then takes Kyle's things into his bedroom and grabs his sleeping bag in return.
Brax stays with Casey until he goes to sleep again then goes out into the kitchen to check out Marilyn's soup.
Kyle eventually walks out into the kitchen wearing his pyjamas and penguin oodie and takes his borrowed clothes into the laundry to wash.
"Brax, after these clothes get washed do you mind dropping them back to the school?" Kyle whispers.
Brax nods and smiles and rests his hand on Kyle's shoulder.
"Try not to think about what happened at school today, Kyle. You have the rest of the week off, so take this time to recover, huh? And I'll get you some brand-new clothes before next week," Brax says.
Kyle blinks away the tears forming in his eyes again at the thought of what happened. "Why don't you sit down on the couch and read or watch TV while I make you some lunch?" Brax suggests in a quiet tone.
"I'm not really hungry," Kyle mumbles, feeling miserable.
"I understand you might not be feeling the best, but you should still have something to eat. How about I make you a tuna sandwich?"
Kyle shrugs and doesn't say anything and just wanders over to the couch and slumps down, gingerly, grabbing his book.
Kyle starts to read his book but no matter how much he wanted to focus on his book it is no use; he keeps reading the same page over and over.
Brax brings over his lunch and takes a seat beside him on the couch.
"How are you feeling?"
Kyle just shrugs not wanting to talk about it, then Brax adds about his physical state.
"I know you don't want to talk about that, but I mean how are you feeling with your abdomen and rest of your body injuries?" Brax asks.
"I guess I'm a little sore. It's still uncomfortable when I sit, and my chest and abdomen are tender. My skin also feels a little itchy from the tape," Kyle says in a whisper and looks down.
Brax gently pats Kyle's knee.
"How about I get you some pain meds then. Do you think you might need a hot bag for some comfort?"
"Yeah maybe," Kyle mumbles.
Brax gets up and grabs the pain tablets and warms up the heat-bag and returns to the couch, handing Kyle the items then sitting back down.
Knowing Kyle did not want to talk, Brax remains silent and just provides company for his little brother for the remainder of the afternoon.
Eventually it is dinner time and Brax re-heats up the soup for himself and Kyle and feeling exhausted, Kyle cleans away his dishes and starts making his way to go to bed early.
"You going to be okay on your own, kiddo?" Brax calls out as he sees Kyle begin to walk down the hall towards his bedroom.
"You don't need to keep asking if I'm okay Brax. I know you mean well but it's not necessary," Kyle mumbles.
"Kyle, I'm just worried about you. I can't forget the last time you dealt with some serious bullying and weren't okay, that you thought it was a good idea to try to run away from it and deal on your own. I don't want that to happen again, kiddo," Brax explains.
Kyle frowns and looks down and remembers that time - he'd got a spanking for endangering himself and scaring his brothers, and he decided he was never going to run away again after that, as the spanking he got had hurt so much.
"I wouldn't do that," he mumbles.
"I just want to be sure Kyle. I'm here for you if you need anything at all. Have a good sleep," Brax says and gives Kyle a comforting smile.
"Goodnight," Kyle mumbles and walks off into Brax's bedroom.
Brax watches a bit of TV for a while, then just after ten makes his way to bed. He quickly checks on Kyle who has fallen asleep, snuggled up in his double bed then goes into the boy's bedroom and sees Casey also asleep, so he gets into his sleeping bag and relaxes.
Around eleven-thirty Brax is woken from his sleep when Casey suddenly sits up and calls out.
"I don't feel well. I think I'm going to be sick!"
Brax is not quick enough to grab the bucket in time and Casey vomits all over his bed sheets, following it with a pitiful whine.
"It's okay, Case," Brax soothes.
"I thought I was better," he whines then vomits again, only this time into the bucket.
"I know, but like I said it can take a while sometimes and you might feel good, but it doesn't mean you are better," Brax says and rubs Casey's back.
Casey vomits a third time and this time he lets a few tears fall from his feelings of misery.
"I know it doesn't seem like it but you're gonna be okay, just try and remain calm, Champ," Brax soothes as Casey shivers and sobs a little.
"Can I have a drink? My mouth feels horrible," Casey chokes out.
"Sure, and why don't you hop up for a second and I'll change your sheets," Brax requests and helps Casey to stand and guides him over towards Kyle's bed to sit down while he strips the bed.
Brax goes to take the soiled sheets into the laundry when Casey calls out to him.
"Please don't go."
"I'll be back in just a second, Case," Brax reassures.
"No; what if I spew again?"
"Just hang onto the bucket. I have to get these to the laundry and grab your drink," Brax replies, forgetting how clingy Casey could be when he was sick.
Casey whines but remains sitting on Kyle's bed with the bucket in his hands, shivering a little. Brax quickly leaves and when he returns, he brings back a glass of water and some fresh sheets.
"Here, drink this," he orders Casey.
Brax re-does Casey's sheets then helps the teen back in bed.
"I feel sweaty again, Brax," Casey whines.
Brax rests his hand on Casey's forehead, making gentle stroking movements until Casey falls back to sleep. Brax sighs and lies back down in his sleeping bag.
It takes Brax a little while to get back to sleep being on a constant watch over the youngest as he can hear Casey tossing and turning in his sheets.
It must have been close to another hour before Brax manages to fall back to sleep when he hears a scream coming from his bedroom.
Brax startles awake and flicks on the light on his phone; quickly checking that Casey hadn't stirred from his sleep before getting up and rushing out the door towards his bedroom.
Brax barges into the bedroom and faintly sees Kyle sitting up in the bed in the dark.
Brax quickly flicks on the light and sees Kyle huddled up, hugging his knees and in a flood of tears.
"Hey, Kyle; what's the matter?" Brax asks concerned and sits down on the bed, pulling Kyle into a tight hug.
Kyle doesn't say anything but continues to sob.
"Talk to me Trooper; what happened?"
Outside in the basketball courts of the school, Kyle is taped to one of the poles in the same way as he was in the gym change room, including being soaked from practically being jammed to the bottom of the toilet prior, receiving the worst swirly, making him gag and feel like he was drowning.
The entire school is staring at him and laughing; some people videoing the torment. He visualises the entire school, the entire part of town, seeing photos plastered over the walls of him in this humiliating position; never being able to go outside the house again.
Some year twelves push through the crowd and surround Kyle, poking and taunting him and tipping their soft drinks over him and laughing.
Kyle can hear everyone's phones pinging from the viral videos of him being bullied. He glances over and sees his four best friends. They briefly look his way but then turn away, wanting nothing to do with him.
Kyle is devastated by his friend's rejections and not only that but to hear them whisper reasons why they were even friends with such a big loser.
Kyle spots Bianca through the crowd and hopes that she would at least help him, but instead she smiles and laughs, informing Kyle that his brothers could not care less about the situation he'd gotten himself into and were too embarrassed by him.
Kyle visualises Brax and Heath standing in the crowd shaking their heads, disgraced to call Kyle their brother and Casey is standing by scoffing and boasting how he was always right about Kyle being a wimp.
Kyle tries to flick back his tears but is unable to, from the hurt he feels inside and out, only causing further taunts and laughter.
Kyle can't get away and it is eating him all up inside, the bullying, the humiliation and his friends and family turning against him.
Kyle mumbles out part of his nightmare, feeling some comfort from his brother's strong embrace.
"I'm sorry for waking you with being such a wimp over a nightmare," Kyle apologises heartedly, reeling with embarrassment and feeling traumatised.
Brax cups Kyle's chin in his hand and forces the teen's gaze.
"Hey: I told you before you are not a wimp; didn't I? So, I don't want to hear you say you are again; am I clear?" Brax says in a gentle yet authoritative manner.
Kyle casts his eyes down and nods, becoming more upset.
"It's okay to be scared. What you went through today was not something that a lot of people could take, so it's understandable to be upset still and even have nightmares, but Ky, listen to me: you are safe here and if you need to talk, you let me know," Brax says and gives Kyle a bigger hug.
It takes Kyle a while to settle down and stop his body from shaking from the crying but as soon as he begins to settle Brax releases his hold.
"How about you try and get some more sleep," Brax whispers and strokes Kyle's hair.
"I know you're meant to be looking after Casey but if it's possible could you please stay with me for a little while; at least until I get back to sleep?" Kyle requests in a quiet whisper.
"I'm here for you too Kyle," Brax whispers.
Kyle gives a slight smile up at Brax then shuffles back down in his covers.
"I wish today had never happened, or that I'd gotten sick instead of Casey then I wouldn't have been at school," Kyle mumbles.
"I understand your feelings kiddo, but it's no use focusing on the what-ifs either," Brax says softly and strokes Kyle's hair.
Brax remains with Kyle until he has fallen asleep, which takes close to forty minutes then makes his way back into the boy's bedroom to check on Casey before attempting to go to sleep again himself.