Fire and Rain by Andrew Grey

will clean him up for you,” Kip said when Isaac reached for him. “You can have him then.”
    “Promise?” Isaac asked.
    “Yes. I promise.” Kip put Weeble in the backseat, and they all got into their cars. Powers still huffed, but Jos was done with this place. He never wanted to see it again as long as he lived. As Kip pulled away, Jos refused to turn around. Somehow he had to make his life move forward to a better place.
     
     
    KIP STOPPED for pizza since it was getting late. When they got back to the house, Isaac was nearly asleep, and Jos got him cleaned up and put him in bed with Pistachio. Weeble had been washed and was in the dryer. Kip had been afraid that the dust from the demolition wasn’t good for Isaac, but in the morning, he’d have his bear back.
    “I can’t believe you did that,” Jos said as he and Kip sat on the porch in the near darkness.
    “Why not? He’s been through more pain than anyone his age should ever have to be, and if he wanted his bear, I had to do what I could to get it for him.”
    Jos reached out to Kip and squeezed his hand. “Thank you. It means a great deal to both of us. I only wish I’d known where it was when I went inside. I could have prevented the extra searching.”
    “Seeing Powers about ready to explode was worth it. Even his own men weren’t happy with him.” Kip sat back and put his feet up on the table. “The weather says it’s going to get cold again tomorrow and probably stay that way from now on, so we may as well enjoy the last of the warm weather.”
    Jos agreed and tried to relax, but there were so many things he didn’t know. “When do you have to go back to work?”
    “Day after tomorrow. This is my weekend, I guess. I rarely get a full Saturday and Sunday off together because I’m one of the lower men on the totem pole, but it doesn’t really matter. Two days off together gives me time to do what I need and to rest and get some projects done around here.”
    “It was quite a day,” Jos said as he ran over everything that had happened in his mind.
    “Yes, it was. And we should get your things out of the trunk.” Kip didn’t make any effort to move. “There’s a dresser in the guest room that’s empty. Go ahead and put your things in there.” Kip stretched his arms over his head and his shirt rode up, giving Jos a peek at Kip’s flat belly. “I’ll help you in a minute. I just need to relax a bit.”
    It had turned very dark by the time Kip got up to move. He unlocked the trunk and began carrying things into the house. They should have done this before Isaac went to bed, but Kip had a solution and put the bags in the next room.
    “At least it’s all in and you can take care of things in the morning,” Kip told him when they were all done. Jos didn’t want to question what Kip had said, and it seemed Kip wanted him and Isaac to stay, at least for a few more days. Jos nodded and dug in one of the bags for some clothes to wear to bed. Then he said good night and went into the bathroom to clean up.
    Isaac never moved when Jos came in the room and got into bed with him. He held Pistachio tight and lay curled almost into a ball. Jos wondered what sort of dreams he was having and hoped they were happy ones. Granted, there hadn’t been a lot of happiness in their lives lately, but Jos prayed that would change.
     
     
    JOS WOKE to a scream that cut the night like a knife. He sat up as Isaac thrashed and kicked him, yelling once again. Jos pulled Isaac to him, hugging and soothing him until he woke up and began to cry.
    “What happened?” Kip asked as he raced into the room, shirtless and wearing only a pair of shorts.
    “Isaac had a nightmare,” Jos said. He rubbed Isaac’s back, trying to get him calmed down and quiet once again.
    “What happened, buddy?” Kip asked.
    “The mean man tried to take me away, Jos. He put me in the house and then it fell down and I couldn’t find Weeble.” Isaac wiped his eyes, and Kip left the