CHAPTER TEN

Better

The pain is gone. And Kyle's still here. He sighs. It feels too good.

"Oi, Kylie! Come on now."

"Time to wake up."

"Maybe we should get Denny here."

"Yeah. She can kiss sleeping beauty awake. —Ow! The hell was that for?"

"Stuff it, Heath. Let the kid wake up."

"But I—"

"I mean it."

"Why'd you just slap me? Case started it. He said to get Denny—"

"He's heavily medicated. He's got an excuse. You don't."

Kyle smiles to himself. He can practically see Heath roll his eyes, can see Brax's stern scowl. For some reason hearing his brothers' bicker is the best thing, and it makes him work harder to try and peel his eyes open.

But he's so drowsy.

"Aww, there he is! Hey Kylie! Nice of you to join us."

Brax gives Heath another noogie, earning himself a glare.

"What the hell, Brax?"

"Told you to stuff it."

A soft chuckle escapes Kyle. But it hurts his lungs, and he sucks in a breath. Within seconds, his brothers' worried faces all appear before him, all of them quiet for once.

"Easy, mate."

"I'm fine, guys."

Brax quirks an eyebrow. "Are ya? Coz you don't look it. How's the knee?"

"'S okay."

"Nothing bothering you? —Heath, grab Nate."

Heath pouts at Brax. "Why do I always have to go?"

"Coz Case isn't even supposed to be up yet—go back to bed, Case."

"But—" Casey starts, and Brax cuts him off right away.

"Bed. Now. Wanna pass out again like last time?"

Poor Casey lowers his head and trots off, but Heath still lingers. Kyle can't help but smile. His brothers are being their typical selves.

"What're you still doing here, eh? Get Nate."

Heath rolls his eyes but stalks away, if not without muttering under his breath, "Of course the great Darryl Braxton gets to stay."

"Oi! I heard that!" Brax grins at Heath, then turns his attention to Kyle. "You feeling alright, mate?"

"Yeah." Talking is hard. His throat is dry and raspy. A cough escapes him and he winces. His lungs don't like the motion. But it's still not as bad as his knee was before, so he won't complain.

"You alright? Kyle."

Brax's hand is on his shoulder. The look of concern on his face makes Kyle feel self-conscious.

"Fine." Well, he's not. Still. They all know that. But at least he's better. Unless … "Is my knee—"

"You're gonna be alright, Kyle. Nothing that can't be fixed."

Something about Brax's tone makes him perk up. He shoots a look over at Case. But neither of his brothers is quite meeting his gaze.

"What?" He tries to sit up straighter, but Brax won't let him.

"Easy, mate."

"What's going on? What's wrong with my knee?" He looks down at his leg, thickly bandaged but still there at least, then gazes back up at Brax. But he's not the one who replies.

"You'll need some extensive physical therapy, mate," Ricky says, smiling her soft smile at him. She is rubbing his shoulder in that big-sisterly way of hers and if ever there was a time where he really, really bloody needed a big sister, it's now.

"Extensive." The word sounds less than promising. But he's too exhausted to dwell on it. He wants to rest his eyes for just another moment, escape the cruel lights and his brothers' nervous looks, and the reality that maybe, his leg is going to give him more trouble.

Whatever. At least the pain is better. He is better. For now.

"Kyle. Oi."

Blinking, he tries to focus his gaze on Brax, who shoots him an encouraging look.

"Nothing we can't deal with, alright? Andy's already looking into the best program for you and picked up a course so he can help you."

"Yeah, and I got some good books on it. Once I'm outta here, Andy and I'll make sure we find the best exercises so we can help you at home, mate" Casey pipes up, looking a bit peeved that his own injury has him sidelined.

Kyle has to smile.

"Thanks," he croaks as the drowsiness begins tugging at him harder. Maybe this all won't be so bad. He has his family to look out for him now. No Joe, who leaves him to fend for himself. No, the Braxtons are not like that. They stick up for each other.

And he is one of them.

Maybe Kyle Bennett would have succumbed, would have given up. But Kyle Braxton won't.


Apologies for the long wait and the very short update. I figured I'd end it here for now, although it's gonna leave a lot of things wide-open and unanswered. But it gives us a bit of closure, too. And who knows, I might come back to this again.

Thanks for reading! :)