Brax wanders into the kitchen to grab the orders and to check on Casey and furrows his brow when he sees dishes piled up near the sink and no Casey in sight.
Brax takes the orders out to the ladies table and goes back towards the kitchen to investigate the disappearance of his baby brother.
"Henry, have you seen Casey?" Brax asks his chef.
"Nah, sorry boss; he's gone. I've been swamped with the orders I haven't kept an eye," Henry replies.
Brax huffs and walks back into the restaurant to ask Phil only to receive an unsure answer.
Brax storms up to Kyle, who is busily cleaning one of the booth tables and minding his own business.
"Kyle!" Brax calls, somewhat harshly and loudly.
Kyle jumps in fright and drops his spray bottle on the table, turning around to face Brax.
"What have I done?" he quickly asks in panic.
Brax furrows his brow, confused, having been so preoccupied with Casey's disappearance he failed to see Kyle startle by his presence.
"You haven't done anything, Kyle. I came to ask you if you knew where Casey was," Brax questions.
"He's in the kitchen," Kyle answers.
"No, he's not," Brax snaps.
Kyle swallows nervously; worried Brax is going to get mad at him.
"Um...I honestly don't know," Kyle mumbles.
"I don't have time for this," Brax grumbles and lets out a heavy huff, as he sees the restaurant picking up with customers.
"I'm sorry," Kyle mutters.
"You needn't be sorry, just keep up with your work," Brax dismisses, making Kyle feel uncomfortable from his big brother's rising anger.
Brax makes his way back over to the bar.
"Sorry, Phil; I know it's a big ask but would you mind serving customers as well, just until I find Casey?"
"Guess I can do that. Hope the young guy's alright," Phil responds.
"Thanks," Brax answers then huffs.
He might not be when I find out where he's gotten to.
Brax heads into the storage rooms, still not finding Casey.
He finally swings open the door to the back office and catches Casey flopped on the couch, eating some Pretzels that the teen had taken from the storage room that were used for the Pretzel Cheesecake on the menu.
Casey is startled by the sudden opening of the door and hastily moves to a sitting up position.
"Brax?" he yells in surprise, practically spitting out chewed up pretzels.
"What? Not who you were expecting? What do you think you're doing?" Brax bellows.
Casey shamefully avoids Brax's gaze and doesn't answer, knowing he is in trouble.
"I asked you a question, Casey!" Brax yells and places his hands on hips.
"I... uh...I was...uh...just resting for a minute," Casey stutters.
"Don't you give me that; I know you've been missing from the kitchen for a while. There are dishes piling up and the floors are due to be mopped again!" Brax scolds.
"Why do I have to do the dishes again? There's so many and my hands are all wrinkled and dry. It's not fair," Casey mutters as he shifts on the couch but does not get up, despite his fears of his angry big brother.
"I don't want to hear it. You are being punished; it's not meant to be fair. Now get up and get back to what you've been told to do," Brax reprimands and points his thumb behind him, indicating for Casey to go.
Casey shuffles his feet on the floor and avoids setting eyes on his brother.
"What about a lunch break aren't we allowed those?" Casey protests in a mumble, trying to stall the process of going back to his tasks.
"Yes, when I say, so stop stalling," Brax says, reading Casey like a book.
"Last warning, Casey: get up off your backside; right now, before I come over there and get you up, and moving; you have three seconds!" Brax warns, seething and gritting his teeth at the young teen's stubborn streak.
Casey scowls and remains seated, not out of pure defiance but from his reluctance to scrub dishes and floors again.
"One...Two..." Brax shouts, his counting startling Casey, such that the teen jumps in his spot.
"Okay, okay!" Casey surrenders.
However, before he has a chance to get up, Brax has reached three and gets a firm grasp on Casey's upper arm, yanking him to his feet.
"Are you deliberately trying to make me angry? I do not have time for your nonsense while at my work!" Brax pulls Casey along, angrily.
"But I'm so sick of cleaning! I want to set tables and take orders to the kitchen like Kyle does. Why does he get the easier job?" Casey argues and lets out a huff.
Astounded by Casey's outburst, Brax shakes his head angrily.
"You will do what you are told! Do not let me catch you bunking off on your punishment again; am I clear? Or you will find yourself dealing with something far more unpleasant!" Brax bellows, gripping Casey's arm tighter.
"Yes," he mumbles, barely audible.
"You want to know why Kyle is allowed out the front for his punishment: because he's well-mannered around my customers and I can rest assured he will remain well behaved, unlike your defiance you are showing right now with your disregard for my punishment rules," Brax growls and pulls Casey along.
"I wasn't being disregarding, I just didn't want to do it," Casey replies in a sulk.
"Enough! I even had some customer's comment how polite Kyle was," Brax continues.
"Kyle's polite to everyone! He was even polite to the year ten's that used to steal his pocket money for lunch and shove him into the bins in year seven!" Casey argues.
Brax huffs as the two reach the main part of the restaurant and remain quiet.
Kyle glances over and sees Casey in Brax's hold, wondering when his little brother would stop fighting and just accept the consequences of his actions.
Brax takes sight of a young girl with black hair in her twenties, approaching the bar.
"Hey, Alyssa; thank goodness you're here! I'm a little behind in my stock takes, if you wouldn't mind holding down the forte in the restaurant?" Brax asks.
"Sure," Alyssa smiles and ties on her apron around her waist.
"Thanks, and I don't believe you've formally met my little brothers? This one here is Casey," Brax introduces, giving Casey a gentle jerk.
"Hi," Casey mumbles, grumpily.
"Hi," Alyssa replies in a sweet tone.
"And the one over there is Kyle. He's been doing good with the table cleaning and setting but if you wouldn't mind keeping an eye on him while I'm out the back?" Brax asks.
"No problem," Alyssa replies and gets straight into serving.
Brax takes Casey into the kitchen.
"Alright: get cracking," Brax orders.
Casey sulks but complies, filling up the sink with dishwashing detergent and starting on the long pile of dishes.
"Why does there have to be so many," he moans, quietly.
"Stop complaining and just get working; the harder you work, the less you have to do," Brax replies sternly as he stands and supervises his baby brother.
After a few minutes, Casey glances around and still sees Brax standing and watching.
"I thought you said you had stocks to do," he comments.
"I do, but I have to make sure you're not going to do another runner if my back's turned."
"I won't, I don't need you supervising," Casey moans.
"Clearly you do," Brax replies.
Suddenly they hear a loud smash in the main part of the restaurant.
"Don't move," Brax warns Casey and heads out to see what happened.
Casey stops dish cleaning and sneaks a peek into the restaurant and sees Kyle kneeling on the floor with a pile of smashed dishes and the waitress standing nearby.
Brax approaches Kyle and the scattered mess of smashed plates.
"What happened?" he demands.
Kyle shifts nervously on the floor, scared that his brother was going to be furious at him for ruining his belonging in his restaurant.
"Brax, I'm so, so sorry; I didn't mean it," Kyle apologises, heartedly and tries to gather up the broken pieces of plate, as he feels himself sweating with embarrassment.
Brax frowns and grabs Kyle by his arm and pulls him to his feet, causing Kyle to squeak.
"Do not touch that with your hands; you never do a thing like that," Brax scolds.
"It might be my fault. I asked Kyle to collect some plates for me to take back to the kitchen," Alyssa confesses.
"No. I'm sorry, I stupidly dropped them," Kyle confesses, feeling the guilt rise.
"It's no-one's fault, these things happen," Brax replies, firmly yet calmly.
"I thought it would have been alright, but I saw him bump his leg on one of the chairs and then he suddenly buckled or something and then the plates fell," Alyssa explains.
Brax is gauging Kyle's demeanour and notices Kyle squeezing his hands and shifting his left knee and furrows his brow, remembering how he'd noticed Kyle earlier, rubbing his hands and knees.
"Kyle, is something bothering you?" Brax asks.
"Um...no," Kyle lies and stares down at the ground at the mess he made.
"Hmm," Brax mumbles, not believing his younger brother for a second and concluding he is hiding something.
Brax glances around the restaurant and notices a handful of customers looking in their direction from the commotion.
"Alyssa, would you mind cleaning this up for me please? I'm going to take Kyle out the back for a break and a chat," Brax asks.
"Sure, no problem and I'll just keep an eye out here for you," Alyssa replies with a smile.
"Thanks," Brax replies and gripping Kyle's arm, leads the teen towards the back room.
Reaching the back room and closing the door, he pushes Kyle to sit on the couch.
Panicking that Brax is holding off yelling at him for his mistake until he's reached the back room, Kyle apologises again.
"I'm really sorry for breaking your plates. I promise to pay you back," Kyle begs.
"This isn't about the plates, Kyle. I know it was an accident and that's not a concern to me; there is no need to pay me for the plates. What I do want to know is why you lied to me?" Brax inquires calmly.
Kyle gazes up at Brax, confused.
"I... wasn't..." Kyle is unsure on what to say and instead starts to tear up.
Brax kneels down and grabs Kyle's chin, forcing his head up to meet his gaze.
"What's going on, Kyle? Talk to me," Brax says gently.
"I don't want you to be mad at me," Kyle mumbles.
"Kyle: why would I be mad?" Brax asks and stands up.
"Because I broke your things," Kyle confesses.
"I see, but that's not the real reason though is it, kiddo? You know what I think? I think you're being bothered by your hands and knees, and you want to tell me why?" Brax says.
Kyle glances up wondering how Brax knew and hangs his head.
Brax gently takes Kyle hands and turns them over to look at his palms and sees the mild grazes.
"What's this from?"
Kyle doesn't answer and so Brax takes it upon himself to start pulling up the leg of Kyle's pants.
"Wait..." Kyle gasps in shock and moves away but is not quick enough for Brax to have now exposed his injured left knee, seeing the three centimetre cut.
"Geez, Kyle!" Brax exclaims and without hesitation, yanks up the pants of Kyle's right leg to see if it was the same.
Going back to assess the left knee that is bleeding a little through the bandage, Brax gently starts to remove the bandage.
"What the hell happened?" Brax demands, a little more sternly than he intended as he assesses the large cut on Kyle's knee.
Kyle shuffles in his spot on the couch and breaks down.
Brax huffs and quickly gets up to grab the first aid kit from the cupboard.
"It's alright, Kyle; it's alright. Just tell me what happened," Brax says calmly and squeezes Kyle's shoulder in comfort.
Kyle sniffs and rubs his eyes with his sleeve as Brax kneels back down to wipe Kyle's knees clean with some saline before rubbing some antiseptic oil over them, causing Kyle to flinch from the sting.
"Ow," he whimpers.
"Sorry little man. I'm worried this left one might require stitches," Brax says softly, "Is this from when you broke the plates?"
Kyle shakes his head.
"It... It was when I fell yesterday," he confesses.
Brax glances up and furrows his brow.
"What do you mean? Hold on: was this the fall that Marilyn and John told me about? The one in which Casey made you trip?" Brax asks firmly.
Kyle nods.
"Kyle! Why didn't you tell me you were hurt? I asked you yesterday if you got hurt and you said no. Why would you lie to me like that?" Brax demands, while still remaining calm so as to not upset his brother further.
Kyle shrugs and continues to cry, fearing he's disappointed his big brother yet again by lying.
"I'm sorry," he sobs.
Brax grabs his chin and holds his face up to look him in the eye.
"I don't need to hear sorry, Kyle. I just want to know why," Brax urges gently.
Kyle casts his eyes down to avoid looking into Brax's eyes the best he can.
"I didn't want to tell you because I didn't think it mattered," Kyle confesses as tears continue to roll down his cheeks.
"What? Whatever gave you that idea, Kyle?" Brax demands, sternly; wiping a few tears away with his thumb.
Kyle shrugs and sobs harder, not knowing how to answer, so Brax sighs.
"I'll give you a minute to think about it. Let's get fresh bandages on your knees; hey?" Brax says softly and gently rubs his hand through Kyle's hair as he stands to grab some bandages, realising there is no point in demanding answers when his main concern is Kyle.
Brax dresses the wounds to Kyle's knees, briefly looking up at his younger brother, who kept wiping his eyes with his sleeve.
Brax gently takes Kyle's hands.
"Let me just rub some antiseptic cream into your hands too," he says softly.
Brax rubs the cream over Kyle's palms and Kyle finds comfort in his brother's large warm hands resting over the top of his palms.
"Thank you," he whispers, having settled down his tears some.
Brax nods.
"You ready to talk?" Brax asks softly.
"I... I didn't tell you because you were so mad yesterday and that's why I didn't think..."
"It mattered? Kyle, no matter how angry I may be, I would never brush off an injury, no matter how minor or not it may be," Brax reassures, firmly, with his hands giving Kyle's upper arms a gentle squeeze.
"And is that why you lied too?" Brax prompts.
Kyle nods, "I'm sorry, I know you hate that."
"Yes, I do, but I'm not going to remind you anymore about it because I think you already are feeling guilty enough over it. Though I have to say Ky, those injuries looked attended to prior so despite no informing me I'm glad you did clean and bandage them," Brax implies and stands up.
"I didn't. I was going to but then Heath caught me and..." Kyle starts, figuring there is no point in lying about this too.
"Heath knows about this?" Brax raises his brow and interrupts with a huff.
"I told him not to tell," Kyle whispers.
"That wasn't your call or his," Brax replies firmly and points his finger at Kyle before placing his hands on his head.
"He was just doing what I asked, please don't have a go at him, Brax," Kyle pleads.
Brax sighs, wondering how the tables have turned between Heath and Kyle, but he is glad Heath is back to looking after Kyle.
"I won't have a go, but I'll definitely be having a word. Now, seeing as we have sorted all this, I want you to have a break. You can rest for forty minutes, and I will get you some lunch and when it's time to get back to work I want you to wear protective gloves, so the chemical spray doesn't get on your hands," Brax instructs.
"That's not necessary; I'll be fine," Kyle says.
"Not taking no for an answer and as for your knee if it's no better by this evening, I am taking you to Sid to get it stitched. Now rest up, I'll be back in a minute," Brax says in a short tone.
Brax leaves and walks into the kitchen where Casey is busily cleaning the dishes that Alyssa had brought in.
"You don't have to check on me again; I'm doing the dishes," Casey informs.
"I'm not, but that's good, Case," Brax says then turns to his chef but before he can ask Henry about Kyle's order, Casey interrupts.
"What was going on with Kyle and all those broken plates; did he do it?" he asks.
"None of your business, Casey, it was an accident," Brax informs.
Casey huffs at not being informed and goes back to the dishes.
"At least there's less I'll have to clean," he mumbles.
Brax ignores Casey's comment and turns his attention back to Henry again.
"Henry, can I get you to please whip up a chicken wrap with avocado, lettuce, cheese, cucumber, and carrot and a small side of chips?" Brax requests.
"Sure thing, boss," Henry replies and goes into the storage to grab the items.
Casey turns to Brax and frowns.
"That's what Kyle likes," he implies.
"Yes, that's because it is for Kyle," Brax replies simply.
"Why is Kyle allowed to have food while he's meant to be working yet I got in trouble?" Casey grumbles.
Brax sighs, being ready for the backlash from the youngest.
"He's on a break..."
"Why does Kyle get a break and I don't? He smashes a few dishes and gets rewarded with a break! What if I smash some dishes too?" Casey accuses, not feeling the fairness in the situation and holds up two plates from the sink.
Brax glares at Casey.
"You dare deliberately smash plates in my restaurant, and you'll find yourself in very serious trouble," Brax warns.
Casey thinks for a moment, plates in hand, before Brax gives another warning.
"Put them down."
Casey obeys and puts down the plates but continues to sulk.
"Kyle is not being rewarded and I let him go on a break because he happens to be injured, which I'm sure you know very well about because it concerns your little incident from yesterday," Brax informs, approaching the youngest at the sink.
Casey looks away in avoidance.
"Just as I thought, now I already reprimanded you about it yesterday, so I have no need to go on about it further, but I suggest you watch it with your: it's not fair, complaining. As for the break, if you behave and be patient, when Kyle has finished his I will come back and let you have yours; despite you technically already having had a break," Brax informs.
Casey nods without argument this time and Brax slaps his back.
"Good kid; keep it up," he praises and walks out of the kitchen, grabbing Kyle's lunch as he leaves and dropping it into the teen, with a bottle of apple juice from the fridge.
Brax walks back into the restaurant and sees Heath walk in the door.
"Hey mate, how are our trouble-making little brothers doing?" Heath greets, walking up towards the bar.
Brax gives a huff.
"That bad; huh?" Heath says with a chuckle.
"What? No. Why didn't you tell me Kyle was hurt?" Brax demands.
"Huh?"
"Don't play dumb, Heath. Kyle told me you caught him trying to hide and deal with his hand and knee injuries," Brax explains.
"I had it sorted, big fella and he begged me not to," Heath justifies.
"He told me that too, but I told him it wasn't his or your call. I know scrapes and small cuts are only minor injuries but to not be told about it, that doesn't sit well with me Heath. Though I'm thankful you had Kyle's best interests at heart and didn't let him deal with it himself."
"Of course, big fella; so how are Kyle and Case going?" Heath replies.
"Kyle has been on the ball and even had customers commenting about his excellent manners and Casey, well, has been a challenge," Brax explains.
Heath gives a chuckle, "What's new?"
"Can I get you anything whilst you're here?" Brax asks.
"A soda would be great and maybe a box of chips," Heath requests.
Brax writes down the order and hands it to Alyssa as she passes with other orders.
"Can you take this to the kitchen for me please, Alyssa and tell Henry it's for Heath so extra chicken salt," Brax asks.
Alyssa smiles and greets Heath before exiting into the kitchen.
A short while later Alyssa brings out Heath's chips and soda and the second oldest digs in.
Brax and Heath continue to chat about work when Kyle emerges from the back room.
"Hey Bubs; how are you doing?" Heath asks, biting down on a chip.
"I'm okay, thanks Heath," Kyle replies softly.
Brax checks his watch.
"Kyle, you've only been on break for just over thirty minutes. I told you to take forty minutes," Brax tells.
"I know but there's work to be done and I am being punished. I just want to focus on doing a good job by you," Kyle answers sadly.
"I appreciate that Kyle, but I also want you to do as you are told and that includes sticking to break times, but if you are sure you want to get back into it, I won't stop you, but I want you to tell me if you have any trouble; you understand me?" Brax demands firmly.
"Yes Brax, I will," Kyle mumbles and grabs the spray bottle and cloth and puts on the gloves Brax has placed nearby.
Heath smiles as he watches Kyle walk by to attend to the tables.
"Case could learn something from his attitude on things," Heath comments.
Brax heavily sighs, "And speaking of Casey, I better give him a lunch break."
"And speaking of breaks, mine is almost up so I better get back to the gym. I'll see you later; call me if you need me to pick you and the boys up if Jimmy hasn't returned your Ute," Heath offers.
"Thanks mate; catch you later," Brax farewells.
Heath grabs what is left of his box of chips and approaches Kyle, patting the teen on the back.
"You're a good kid, Bubs," he praises with a smile.
Kyle looks up at his older brother and smiles in return.
Brax walks into the kitchen and over towards Casey.
"Case, you can stop the dishes and cleaning and you can go on your thirty-minute lunch break," Brax informs, releasing the teen from his duties.
Casey wipes his hands on the towel.
"Can I have wedges and garlic bread for my lunch, like Kyle got to have his lunch made?" Casey asks.
"No, I'll get Henry to make you a beef and salad roll," Brax replies firmly then yells over to Henry,
"Did you get that Henry, thanks: beef and salad roll for Casey."
"No problem; coming right up!"
Casey scowls,
"Don't I get chips too; Kyle got chips!" Casey instantly complains.
Brax shakes his head and rolls his eyes.
"Honestly Casey! Can you not argue about everything for five minutes?" Brax snaps.
"I was just asking," Casey comments, withdrawing and staring awkwardly at the floor after being scolded.
"If you'd let me finish, I'd have told you I would have got Henry to put some chips aside for you with the order he is about to cook," Brax informs calmly.
Feeling embarrassed for his outburst, Casey quietly apologises.
Brax huffs and nods and hands Casey an orange and mango juice.
"Here is your drink. Your food should be just about ready, so get going; you're on the clock," Brax informs sternly.
Casey grabs his food from Henry and takes his juice and runs off into the back office to relax and eat his lunch.