Little Piece of Heaven

Homecoming

A little piece of heaven

Chapter 10

Homecoming

Pigsy pulled the car up to the hospital and watched as the nurse wheeled Tang out and opened the door for him. Once inside Tang pulled on the seatbelt and yawned. He still wasn't back up for work, but bed rest can be done at home. At least being a monk meant you were a ward of the state and they took care of medical bills.

"Hey there kiddo." Tang said to Xiaotian as they pulled from the curb. The infant looked like he was ready for a nap and Tang didn't blame him. By the time they pulled up to their house both Tang and Xiaotian were asleep.

Pigsy had to make two trips. Xiaotian first, then Tang. Tucked within Pigsy's arms he was laid into their bed.

Tang slowly opened his eyes to see Pigsy curled up next to him. He had his arms around him protectively. The baby monitor on the bedside table. Not a peep was heard save for the distant sound of crickets. Tang's eyes closed once again.

Outside, there were shadows moving around, each one dressed in black, with a black fox mask. They had hay over their backs, their feet running soundlessly over the grass. Lining the area's around the windows, and doors. One lit the hay on fire the others did the same. They ran toward the wooded area in the back.

Pigsy jumped up, his nose catching something unusual in the air. He leaned over and rubbed his fingers over Tang's back. The scholar opened his eyes and looked around, still sleepy.

"Wassa mander Piggy?" He asked groggily. Slurring his words, as he yawned and stretched.

"You smell that?" He asked, looking around. Tang caught the warning in Pigsy's voice. He smelled the air, it smelt normal to him. But then again he didn't have Pigsy's nose. The overprotective husband stood up and motioned for Tang to follow closely. They went into the nursery which was right next to their bedroom.

"Come on kiddo...let's get out of here." Pigsy said as he wrapped up his son in a few blankets.

"Pigsy?" Tang asked, almost afraid, touching his elbow. Tang pointed toward the window. There were flickering in the windows of the house across the street.

"There's a house fire..." Pigsy took Tang's hand and ran toward the back of the house thinking since they could see the fire in the back then they should be better in the back. When Pigsy saw the windows and the flames already within the house he knew there was a problem. Tang pulled Pigsy toward the kitchen, perhaps the window there?

No dice. The flames were so high in the kitchen they were licking the ceiling.

"What are we going to do Pigsy!" Tang asked, clinging to the pig who backed them out of the kitchen. Xiaotian began to cough.

Pigsy's fathers instinct to protect his spouse and child kicked in and he ran them upstairs. Yet he could see the flames at the windows there as well. Closing the bedroom door to at least attempt to give their son fresh air proved almost fruitless as the room was just as filled with smoke as the rest of the house.

Pigsy backed them into the corner next to the closet, sighed, and sat down in defeat. Kissing Tang's forehead.

"Tang...?"

"Shhhh..." Tang whispered as he curled into him.

A loud shatter could be heard, at first Tang thought it was just the sound of the glass breaking downstairs from the heat...right?

"Master!"