AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you as always to Braxton54 and Bonnie Sveen Fan for reviewing and to everyone reading.

It is now getting close to five and Brax still hasn't heard back from Jimmy, nor seen him with his Ute.

Brax decides to leave it a few more minutes before planning to notify Heath, who has finished at four and would be home by now to come pick him, Kyle and Casey up.

Five minutes later, Jimmy waltzes into the restaurant swinging Brax's Ute keys in his fingers.

"Yo, Big Man B, your baby's out front, and looking all good as new," Jimmy announces and chucks Brax's keys at him.

Brax catches his keys with one hand.

"That's great Jimmy, thanks. I was beginning to think it wasn't going to be ready."

"Nah: all good. I'll see you tomorrow when I pop around for Heath's Ute," Jimmy states.

"Sure, you didn't have any trouble getting there and back did you?" Brax asks.

"Got picked up by my girlfriend," Jimmy replies.

"Catch ya, Braxtons!" Jimmy yells and exits.

Brax shoves his keys in his pocket and goes to find Casey.

After instructing Casey to do a final mop of the kitchen, toilet, and restaurant before the night time run, Brax tells Kyle to put away all his items then waits for his two little brothers.

Kyle and Casey tiredly shuffle towards their big brother and Brax wraps his arm around both their shoulders and the three walk out towards his Ute.

Brax smiles in pleasure as he takes a look at his black Ute that is sparkling and shiny.

"Take a look boys, this is what your day of work has contributed to paying off," Brax announces and removes his arms from around their shoulders to gesture towards his Ute.

Kyle's cheeks flush with embarrassment, feeling guilty he is partially responsible for the damage in the first place.

"It's nice," he whispers.

Not wanting to be reminded of all the trouble he'd gotten into from it, Casey doesn't say anything and just turns his head away.

Kyle reaches the front before Casey and waits for Brax to unlock the door.

"I always sit in the front," Casey mumbles.

"I was here first, that's what your excuse always is," Kyle grumbles back.

Brax leans up to look over the top of his Ute at his brothers.

"I better not be hearing arguing boys? Casey, it won't hurt you to sit in the back. Kyle was at the front first," Brax clarifies.

Casey huffs and gets into the backseat with a sulk as Kyle gets in the front.

Besides always wanting the prime front seat, Casey preferred sitting in the front due to his craving to be close to his big brother on any drive, though the youngest would never admit that was his main reason.

Unbeknown to Brax, Casey gives Kyle's seat a quick kick to annoy his older brother.

Kyle hesitates and shifts in his seat and decides not to bite back and ignores his immature, moody little brother.

Kyle glances over at Brax as they drive home, and he isn't sure whether he is just tired from the day or he is riddled with guilt, but Kyle could not swallow the pitiful knot in his stomach.

Brax pulls into the driveway and parks in his spot next to Heath's Ute.

Casey is quick to unclick his seatbelt and get out, while Kyle and Brax follow.

"Go and get yourselves cleaned up and get in your pyjamas and I'll get things ready for pizza for dinner; any special requests?"

"Can I have a chicken, sausage, and bacon one with extra cheese?" Casey asks, frankly.

"I'd like just a cheese one this time please Brax," Kyle adds, not in the mood for his regular Hawaiian or BBQ chicken and feta cheese ones.

"Okay, well I won't make an order until you boys have cleaned up," Brax informs.

"Brax, do I have to have a shower? I've spent all day in water," Casey moans.

"I guess you can go without for one night," Brax replies.

"I can still go for my shower right?" Kyle clarifies, not wanting to skip his shower when he's been sweating it out with cleaning tables all day and being a bit of a clean freak.

"No, you can have one," Brax smiles.

Kyle rushes off to get a towel and his clothes for a shower, while Casey follows behind and gets in his pyjamas whilst Kyle goes for his shower.

While his brothers are getting ready, Brax wanders over to the flat and knocks on Heath's door.

"Just came over to ask if you want to come over and join us for pizza?"

"Nah, not tonight, turns out Bianca called me when I got home and she's coming around for the evening," Heath responds.

"Good on you, mate. Well have a good night," Brax replies, giving Heath's arm a slap, before heading back into his house.

The three Braxtons eat their pizzas in silence until Casey recalls his feelings of frustration and kicks his leg restlessly under the table, managing to hit Kyle's sore knee in the process.

"Ow," Kyle mumbles and shifts in his chair.

"Kyle: something wrong?" Brax asks.

Kyle flicks his eyes towards Casey and not giving the youngest more reason for conflict, Kyle keeps quiet about the kick.

"My knee just twinges, is all," Kyle mumbles back.

"Did you take off your bandages in the shower?" Brax questions and Kyle nods.

"Well after dinner I'll check it again and re-bandage," Brax replies.

Kyle gives a quiet 'okay' and continues on with his pizza.

Once all the boys finish eating, the time has passed to just before seven.

Brax takes the cups and plates to the sink to clean them up; giving his tired brothers a night off from dish duty and besides it is only a few items; not enough to cause conflict forcing his brothers to complete their dose of extra chores.

"Both of you go and brush your teeth, because I want you both organised for bed at eight. You've both had a big day and have another day ahead of you, and Kyle once done come back out here and I'll have a look at your knees and hands," Brax instructs.

As Kyle and Casey leave the table to head towards the bathroom, Brax grabs the empty pizza boxes and walks outside to place them in the recycle bin.

With Brax out of ears reach, he isn't able to hear the tension between his teenage brothers: Kyle and Casey shoving in the bathroom doorway at the same time.

Finally Casey pushes Kyle hard enough into the door frame that he manages to get through and into the bathroom and glares at the older teen.

"I was here first," Casey mocks and grabs his toothbrush and the tooth paste.

Kyle rolls his eyes and leans against the opposite wall and decides to bite his tongue yet again, putting Casey's behaviour down to his frustrations, despite his own feelings of guilt and misery bubbling up inside.

Casey finishes and walks off to his bedroom to sulk and think about the day before he would be instructed to go to bed, leaving Kyle to then go in and brush his teeth.

After finishing his teeth, Kyle goes out into the lounge room to where Brax is waiting on the couch.

Brax immediately stands up and goes to retrieve the first aid kit he'd placed on the table.

"Sit," he instructs Kyle.

Kyle sits down on the couch and Brax places fresh cream and bandages to Kyle's knees and hands.

"All done, probably just another day or two then you should be fine. Go and get ready for bed, you can read your comic for half an hour to relax," Brax says and goes to place the first aid kit away in the cupboard.

When he returns he sees that Kyle hasn't moved from the couch.

"Something wrong, little man?" Brax asks calmly.

"Can I stay out here with you for a while, please?" Kyle requests; still feeling the need to make it up to his big brother and craving his forgiveness.

Brax sighs and glances down at the books on the coffee table having planned to catch up on his stocktake list and records.

"Sure, but only for a while," Brax agrees.

"Thank you," Kyle responds and within seconds of Brax sitting down on the couch, Kyle latches his arms around Brax's chest in a tight hug and squashes himself against his brother.

"Brax, I'm so, so, sorry for everything. The whole mess with your Ute and then lying to you about being hurt and just not being good enough today at your work," Kyle confesses and starts to cry, letting out all his guilt that was weighing him down.

Brax wraps his arm around Kyle and gently massages his head with his other in comfort.

"Where is this all coming from Kyle?" Brax inquires, having been taken by complete surprise.

Kyle shrugs and hugs his brother tighter.

Brax sighs and gives Kyle a few minutes to get it all off his chest before he softly speaks.

"You know I have already discussed all of this with you and in no way do I hold a grudge, so why are you still feeling so guilty; huh, Trooper?"

"I don't know," Kyle mumbles into Brax's chest.

"You want to know something? In regards to work I was so impressed with your efforts today, punishment or not and the feedback I got from customers about you was excellent, so much in fact that tomorrow I'm going to give you a chance to take orders as well," Brax informs quietly.

"What if I stuff it up?" Kyle mumbles, having calmed his tears and snuggling in tighter.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Kyle. I never expect perfection from you in any way; you know that and it's okay to make mistakes. You're still a kid; don't ever forget that and you shouldn't have the world on your shoulders," Brax comforts and leans his head down to give Kyle a brief kiss on his head.

Casey who is wondering what is taking Kyle so long to come into the bedroom remembers Brax wanted to see him, so Casey makes his way down the hall to see what is happening and scowls when he hears Brax praising Kyle and giving him the comfort he was craving from their big brother.

Casey shifts on his feet, feeling angry and jealous; directing it at Kyle.

Hearing movement behind him, Brax half twists his head around and sees Casey standing in the hall out of his peripheral vision.

"Case, what are you doing out here; are you alright?" Brax calls out and watches the youngest.

Casey leans against the wall and shrugs.

"Come over here," Brax calls.

Casey shuffles over to the couch and stares at his feet.

Kyle by now is just resting against Brax's chest, still with his arms draped over the oldest in a hug.

"What's wrong?" Brax asks.

Brax didn't get an answer before Casey flops down on the couch on Brax's left side and sits in close, with his knees up to his chest.

"I want to snuggle too," he mutters.

Brax removes Kyle's arm from his hold and swings his arm around Casey's shoulders and back, pulling the youngest in for a hug.

Casey rests his head on Brax's shoulder.

"I didn't mean to make you so angry and be so difficult today," Casey confesses in barely a whisper, only to self-doubt his reasons seconds later for blurting that out.

Brax squeezes his arm around Casey's waist for comfort.

"Just like I told Kyle, I'll tell you too Case: you're only a kid and it's in your job description to make me mad and be difficult sometimes," Brax says softly, "But how much you do so is what draws the fine line, so don't make it a habit, okay?"

Casey nods gently against Brax's shoulder.

"Let me ask you both this one thing: do you feel as though I haven't forgiven you boys for your wrong-doing on my Ute and that is where all this behaviour is coming from with you both?"

Brax glances down at both his brothers.

Casey shifts and Kyle stiffens in his hold.

"You know I will always forgive you both, no matter what you do. You two are my world and I love you both so much," Brax confirms and gives both Kyle and Casey a squeeze in his arms.

"Even if you can be little pests," Brax adds with a smile.

"I love you too," Kyle whispers and moves his arm back around Brax's waist.

"So do I," Casey adds in a slight grumpy tone and moves his arm up higher than Kyle's, placing it on Brax's chest.

Sensing his brothers are beginning to get competitive around him, Brax decides to put an end to all the snuggling and glancing at the clock on the wall he saw it is almost eight anyway and time for them to go to bed.

Brax sits up from his resting back against the couch position.

"Time for bed," he says firmly.

Kyle sits up obediently, however Casey tries to move closer to Brax and get more of his big brother's attention and comfort than Kyle got.

"No, I wanna stay," he moans.

Brax moves his arms from around both his brothers and grabs Casey by the nape of his neck and gives him a firm kiss on his forehead before doing the same to Kyle.

"Get to bed now; I'm serious," he states sternly and gives them both a slap on their thigh.

Kyle lets out a quiet yelp and rubs his thigh and stands up.

"Can I still read for a bit, please?" Kyle asks.

"Very well, but I want lights out by eight-thirty; no exceptions," Brax replies sternly and points his finger at Kyle.

The older teen nods.

By now, Casey is getting up from his place on the couch and now wearing a scowl on his face for not being able to get what he wants and from the tingling in his thigh that he didn't want to admit bothered him as much as Kyle's did.

"Goodnight boys!"

"Night, Brax," Kyle replies with a weak smile and makes his way to his bedroom.

"Goodnight," Casey grumbles and yawns, following his older brother.

Kyle switches on their bedside lamp as Casey climbs into his bed, making Kyle do everything like switching off the main light before climbing into his own bed.

Casey lies down in his bed and although tired he is not ready to go to sleep and stares blankly at the ceiling, having nothing else to do since Brax confiscated his surfing magazines and ipad.

Casey glances over at Kyle who is starting to read his comic book he'd grabbed from the bedside cupboard after hopping into bed.

Casey waits momentarily before reaching over and flicking the bedside lamp off.

"Hey!" Kyle exclaims and switches the light back on.

"I'm reading, Casey," Kyle states and turns back to his comic.

Casey huffs and waits a few more seconds before switching the light off again.

"Casey: stop it! Brax said I could read and that's what I'm trying to do!" Kyle scolds, becoming frustrated by Casey's immaturity.

Casey frowns at being told off by his brother and retaliates.

"Sorry I forgot: you're such a goodie, goodie!"

Kyle scowls at Casey and puts his comic down in his lap.

"I'm not a goodie, goodie," he retorts.

Casey huffs, "Yes you are! What about when you took Brax's coffee cup to the sink this morning just to get brownie points, I bet that's why he chose you for the easy jobs today!" Casey argues.

"What? Casey you are so full of it! I was being polite!" Kyle grumbles and tries to ignore Casey and get back to reading his comic and relaxing, which he needs more than anything now that Casey is riling him up.

"You're greedy too," Casey comments.

"How do you figure that?" Kyle grumbles.

"Taking all Brax's attention tonight," Casey replies.

Kyle shakes his head.

"He gave you plenty of attention too; it wasn't just me," Kyle defends.

Casey shrugs and waits until Kyle is concentrating on his comic again and flicks the light off again, knowing it is annoying his older brother.

Kyle flicks the light on again.

"Why do you have to be so childish?" Kyle snaps.

"I'm not childish! I'm only trying to go to sleep, but you're doing your stupid reading and it's interrupting me!" Casey argues.

"No, it's not, you always sleep when I sit up reading with no problem; you're only doing it to annoy me!" Kyle accuses.

"What do you know?" Casey grumbles.

Finally having enough, Kyle slams his comic back down on the cupboard and flicks off the light.

Casey immediately switches the light back on.

"Now what: you wanted to sleep so I stopped reading and turned the light off for you!" Kyle grumbles.

Casey deliberately ignores his brother.

"Go to sleep Casey!" Kyle snaps.

"I don't have to listen to you! I'll go to sleep when I want and I've decided I want to relax in bed for a while with the light on," Casey says in a snarky tone.

Kyle shakes his head.

"Fine, maybe you'll listen to Brax when he tells you to go to sleep," Kyle threatens.

"You would do that wouldn't you, because you're such a goodie? Well just try it because you know I'm stronger than you; you weakling, and I could easily make you pay for being a dobber!" Casey threatens; squinting his eyes menacingly at Kyle.

"Whatever; I'm going to sleep. You can turn the light off," Kyle grumbles and turns his back to Casey.

Kyle hears Casey turn around and huff.

The light remains on for a few minutes with neither brother making a sound and Kyle soon realises Casey's determination to be stubborn and refusing to turn the light off, he turns back around and switches the light off for the final time, hoping Casey is not going to turn it on again, for now he is getting tired and just wanted to sleep.

Both teens finally give up with their squabbling and finally go to sleep but not without frustrations on their minds.